The Cuban blackbird (Ptiloxena atroviolacea) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae.

Cuban blackbird
In Havana, Cuba
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Ptiloxena
Chapman, 1892
Species:
P. atroviolacea
Binomial name
Ptiloxena atroviolacea
(d'Orbigny, 1839)
Range of P. atroviolacea
Synonyms

Ptiloxena atroviolaceus
Dives atroviolaceus

Taxonomy edit

It was previously placed in Dives, but now classified in its own genus, Ptiloxena.[2]

Description edit

Measuring 27 cm (11 in) long, this species has entirely black plumage with a slight violet sheen on the upperparts. The only non-black body part is the brown eye.[3]

Distribution and habitat edit

It is endemic to Cuba, where it is widespread and common. It is entirely absent from the Isla de la Juventud and some of the offshore cays.[3] Its natural habitats are lowland moist forests and heavily degraded former forest.

 
A Cuban blackbird in Pinar del Rio Province

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Ptiloxena atroviolacea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22724294A94858907. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. ^ International Ornithologists' Union. IOC World Bird List 12.2 (Multilingual Version) (Report). doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.12.2.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b Garrido, Orlando H.; Kirkconnell, Arturo (2000). Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba. Ithaca, NY: Comstock, Cornell University Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-8014-8631-9.

External links edit