St. Lucia Oriole Icterus laudabilis Scientific name definitions

The St. Lucia Oriole is relatively common and endemic to the Lesser Antillean island of St. Lucia. It is found both in moist montane forest as well as dry lowland forest, and does well in and around small towns and villages if there are some large trees in the area. On average it prefers and is most common in the moister highland forests than the lowlands. The sexes are alike, although the female is a tad duller in color than the male. He is black on the upperparts, head, neck and breast. The belly and vent is a bright orange-yellow, as is the rump and lower back. On the wing, the shoulder is orange-yellow as well. The pointed black bill has a small blue-grey patch at the base of the lower mandible. This is a long and slim oriole. As is typical in the genus, they build a hanging nest, although shallow by oriole standards. It is commonly hung under a banana leaf, although palms are also used as a substrate for the nest. The breeding season is between April and June, and this oriole has been host to the brood parasitic Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). Some estimates are that this species is declining, although more data is necessary to confirm this assertion.

St Lucia, in C Lesser Antilles.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Lesser Antilles EBA. Scarce. Has extremely small global range and very small population, thought to number 1000–2500 mature individuals and probably much closer to lower end of that range. Fairly widespread on the island in suitable habitat. Since 1930s has decreased and become more local, probably a consequence mainly of habitat loss combined with pesticide-spraying and brood parasitism by Molothrus bonariensis; rates of parasitism by latter sometimes very high, up to 75% of broods locally, but effects of this on present species’ current populations not known. There is no evidence that this oriole is under any immediate significant threat, and its population appears stable at present; however, due to tiny range, any declines detected could rapidly lead to redlisting of the species.