Spindalis at Indigenous not from the Bahamas...

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Posted by Brennan Mulrooney on 18:16:08 11/02/04

After examining the bird, my pictures, and the paper that was the basis for the split of this species, it would appear that this bird (last seen 1 Nov) is not from the Bahamas. The two Bahamian subspecies, zena and townsedi, both have much more black in the upper breast/malar/sides of neck and blacker scapulars. This bird rather well matches photos, paintings, and descriptions of the Cuban subspecies S.z.pretrei and as such, may represent a first ABA record of that taxa, as far as I can tell. It also resembles the subspecies from Grand Cayman (salvini), but I guess that's a little less likely.

I've sent Larry M. some of my photos and hopefully he'll post them.

Just to be clear, this appears to be a different SUBspecies of Western Spindalis for FL, not a new SPECIES, but then who knows, maybe they'll be split again.

Brennan Mulrooney
Key Largo, FL

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Comments:	: After examining the bird, my pictures, and the paper that was the basis for the split of this species, it would appear that this bird (last seen 1 Nov) is not from the Bahamas. The two Bahamian subspecies, zena and townsedi, both have much more black in the upper breast/malar/sides of neck and blacker scapulars. This bird rather well matches photos, paintings, and descriptions of the Cuban subspecies S.z.pretrei and as such, may represent a first ABA record of that taxa, as far as I can tell. It also resembles the subspecies from Grand Cayman (salvini), but I guess that's a little less likely. : : I've sent Larry M. some of my photos and hopefully he'll post them. : : Just to be clear, this appears to be a different SUBspecies of Western Spindalis for FL, not a new SPECIES, but then who knows, maybe they'll be split again. : : Brennan Mulrooney : Key Largo, FL
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