Cuban Oriole (Icterus melanopsis) 10 November 2015. Refugio de Fauna Bermeja, Matanzas, CU



Males and females are alike. This individual is missing its tail. This Cuban endemic was formerly lumped with the Greater Antillean Oriole which was split into four species: Cuban Oriole (Icterus melanopsis), Bahama Oriole (Icterus northtropi), Hispaniolan Oriole (Icterus dominicensis), and Puerto Rican Oriole (Icterus portoricensis). In turn all four were previously lumped with the Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) of Middle America under the name Icterus dominicensis now restricted to the Hispaniolan Oriole. Of the former Greater Antillean Orioles, the Cuban species is the darkest with the entire underparts black including the undertail coverts. The Puerto Rican Oriole is similar but has yellow undertail coverts. The Hispaniolan Oriole has the undertail coverts and belly yellow while the Bahama Oriole has the entire underparts yellow except for the chest which is black.

Reference:
Jaramillo, A., & Burke, P. (1999). New World Blackbirds: The Icterids. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
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