Montserrat Oriole
Encyclopedia
The Montserrat Oriole, Icterus oberi, is a medium-sized black-and-yellow icterid
(the same family as many blackbird
s, meadowlark
s, cowbird
s, grackle
s, and others, including the New World oriole
s).
It inhabits a small area on the island of Montserrat
in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, and is the national bird of this British territory. It is threatened by habitat loss, and has been classified by BirdLife International
as Critically Endangered
, with a current estimated population of between 200 and 800. Much of its habitat was destroyed by deforestation, Hurricane Hugo
and the volcanic activity between 1995 and 1997
.
The oriole once was found in three main areas: the bamboo forest east of Galways Soufrière, the leeward slopes of the Chances Peak mountain
and the Centre Hills (especially the Runaway Ghaut area). The diet of the bird consists mainly of insects and fruits. The birds usually lay two spotted eggs. All models indicate that they begin breeding at one year old.Most of them were almost wiped out during volcanoes and only about 200 of them are still surviving.
The binomial of this bird commemorates the American naturalist Frederick Albion Ober
.
Icterid
The Icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. The family is extremely varied in size, shape, behavior and coloration...
(the same family as many blackbird
New World blackbird
The New World blackbirds consist of 26 species of icterid birds that share the name blackbird but do not correspond with a formal taxon...
s, meadowlark
Meadowlark
Meadowlarks are birds belonging to the genus Sturnella in the New World family Icteridae.This genus includes seven species of largely insectivorous grassland birds...
s, cowbird
Cowbird
Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are brood parasitic New World birds which are unrelated to the Old World cuckoos, one of which, the Common Cuckoo, is the best-known brood parasitic bird....
s, grackle
Grackle
Grackle can refer to any of eleven black passerine birds native to North and South America. All are members of the Icterid family but belong to multiple genera.* Genus Quiscalus** Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major...
s, and others, including the New World oriole
New World oriole
New World orioles, comprising the genus Icterus, are a group of birds in the blackbird family. They are not related to Old World orioles which are in the family Oriolidae, but are strikingly similar in size, diet, behaviour and in their strongly contrasting plumage, and are a good example of...
s).
It inhabits a small area on the island of Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, and is the national bird of this British territory. It is threatened by habitat loss, and has been classified by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
, with a current estimated population of between 200 and 800. Much of its habitat was destroyed by deforestation, Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
and the volcanic activity between 1995 and 1997
Soufrière Hills
The Soufrière Hills volcano is an active complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. After a long period of dormancy, it became active in 1995, and has continued to erupt ever since...
.
The oriole once was found in three main areas: the bamboo forest east of Galways Soufrière, the leeward slopes of the Chances Peak mountain
Chances Peak
Chances Peak is the culminant point of the active complex stratovolcano named Soufrière Hills. It is the highest point in Montserrat, a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean Sea....
and the Centre Hills (especially the Runaway Ghaut area). The diet of the bird consists mainly of insects and fruits. The birds usually lay two spotted eggs. All models indicate that they begin breeding at one year old.Most of them were almost wiped out during volcanoes and only about 200 of them are still surviving.
The binomial of this bird commemorates the American naturalist Frederick Albion Ober
Frederick Albion Ober
-Biography:Ober was born February 13, 1849 in Beverly, Massachusetts. From 1862 to 1866 he had an occupation as shoemaker. Subsequently he attended the Massachusetts Agricultural College but due to the lack of funds he was forced to leave the college after a short time. From 1867 to 1870 he worked...
.