Caribbean: This Rare Bird Now Identified as Two Distinct Species

They are like twins: they look alike, but they are not the same. Genetic studies have established differences between the White-throated Thrasher of Martinique (Ramphocinclus brachyurus) and the White-throated Thrasher of Saint Lucia (Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae)which would therefore not be of the same species. The two birds are part of the six members who completed the list of 185 endemic bird species recorded by the AOS.

Genetics, behaviors, and appearance mark their distinction. The one living in Saint Lucia is the largest, with brown plumage and a white line, from the throat to the belly. Its cousin from Martinique, smaller, has feathers that tend towards gray, and a dull white ventral.

The two birds do not live in the same way either. The Saint Lucia Mockingbird will prefer to establish its nest close to the ground, unlike its Martinican counterpart which favors shelter higher up. They are also distinguished by their way of singing, their voices being very distinct.

The White-throated Thrasher threatened with extinction

Since 2020, the White-throated Thrasher of Martinique has been a classified species “critically endangered” on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has between 200 and 400 individuals, located exclusively on the Caravelle peninsula. Its rarity and location have made it an emblematic species of the nature reserve.

The population of the White-throated Thrasher in Saint Lucia is also in danger of extinction, but remains larger than that of Martinique.

But it wasn't always this way. In the 19th century, mockingbirds were commonplace on the island of Martinique. They could be observed both north and south, from Saint Pierre to Trois Ilets. It was from 1950 that the birds became drastically rarer, considered almost extinct.

Today, the species living at Caravelle benefits from a 5-year conservation program, launched at the end of 2018. This is the Life Biodiv'Om project, which aims to protect five species from French overseas territories, including Moqueur. Among the actions implemented, the association aims to create a “ecological corridor”, in order to stabilize its environment and promote its reproductive conditions.

A bird prey to predation and deforestation

Both species owe their status to significant predation, as they are threatened by the invasion of exotic animals such as the Black Rat or the Small Indian Mongoose. According to scientists, it is because of the proliferation of the latter that populations of mockingbirds declined significantly in the middle of the 20th century.

These birds are easy prey for rodents. Feeding mainly on insects, they seek happiness on the ground, under the leaves. But their place in the food chain is not the only reason for their scarcity.

At the same time, deforestation contributes to the destruction of their environment. The fact that these species are endemic increases their vulnerability, because their migration is impossible. Although they demonstrate adaptability, Mockingbirds are sedentary. There is therefore no escape, except to preserve their habitat as best as possible.