Jamaican Spindalis
Spindalis nigricephala
The Jamaican Spindalis (Spindalis nigricephala) is a rare spindalis found only in Jamaica, weighing about 45 g. The Jamaican spindalis is one of four species of bird in family Spindalidae.
About the Jamaican Spindalis
The Jamaican spindalis is one of four species of bird in family Spindalidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Jamaican spindalis is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs 38 to 65 g (1.3 to 2.3 oz). Adult males have a black head with a wide white supercilium and "moustache". It has a white chin and upper throat. Its back is yellowish olive, its rump tawny yellow, and its uppertail coverts black. Its tail is black with wide white edges to the feathers. Its wings are black with white edges on most feathers. Its chest is bright yellowish orange becoming yellow on the breast. Its belly and undertail coverts are white. Adult females have grayish olive head, throat, and upperparts. Voice: As of late 2022 xeno-canto had only one recording of a Jamaican spindalis vocalization and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library only two. The species is generally quiet. It does have a whisper song "chu wheet, chee see whee see, chu wheet", and when foraging in groups makes "a high, fast 'chi-chi-chi-chi-chi'."
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Jamaican Spindalis?
- The Jamaican spindalis is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighs 38 to 65 g (1.3 to 2.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Jamaican Spindalis?
- The Jamaican Spindalis is a small sized bird weighing about 45 g.
- Where can you see a Jamaican Spindalis?
- The Jamaican Spindalis is endemic to Jamaica, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Jamaican Spindalis?
- The Jamaican Spindalis is most easily confused with the Hispaniolan Spindalis, the Western Spindalis and the Puerto Rican Spindalis.
- Is the Jamaican Spindalis endangered?
- The Jamaican Spindalis is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Jamaican Spindalis for real
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