After having seen that Martinique was one of the poles of biodiversity, we are going to take an interest in the birds that are on the island and it must be said that Martinique is full of bird species! Already in the Caribbean 564 species have taken up residence in the archipelago and among 202 are present in Martinique, that is to say almost 36%!
Some of these species are endemic to the island, that is to say that they are only found in Martinique, others are endemic to the Caribbean and the others have been imported into the island for various purposes. As endemic species of Martinique, we can mention the Oriole of Martinique or the Carouge. You will only be able to see them in Martinique!
Many species occupy various territories, dry or wet areas, coastal or in altitude. Some are sedentary and others are migratory.
Some of these different species of birds surround us on a daily basis. To distinguish them from each other, you still have to open your eyes to observe them.
Our unmistakable blackbird
One of the birds that we cannot miss when coming to Martinique is obviously the blackbird. The Blackbird by its scientific name quiscallus ligubris is essential in Martinique. We see it everywhere and its song is very noisy, especially during the breeding season.
If the male is black with shiny reflections, his beak is pointed and the eye iris is yellow, the female has rather dull gray plumage. This bird is not afraid of anything and fiercely defends its territory. It is a very sociable bird and very often in groups. The blackbird is important in the West Indies in a tropical climate because it is a very large consumer of insects. Threatened by the cattle egret (bubulcus ibis) much larger in size (50 cm against 25 cm), recently arrived in Martinique (in 1959) which settled in its ecological niche, it has spread in the whole island and sometimes even in town.
In the West Indies
In the Lesser Antilles, we find several endemic species such as the white-throated mockingbird which inhabits only the Caravelle peninsula. It is a very rare endangered bird. It is sometimes found in Sainte Luce.
The blue-headed hummingbird is found in Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique and nowhere else in the world. It lives in humid areas and in the heights of the island like Mount Pelee.
The trembling thrush also lives in humid highland forests.
Migratory birds
About 110 species migrate to Martinique during the winter in North America. Some are only passing through and only fly over the island when others settle down to nest there.
We can cite terns, shearwaters or phaetons. More than 80 species stay in Martinique to winter. Others are only there in transit in order to reach South America such as knights, sandpipers, ducks and some passerines.
About thirty species only frequent Martinique occasionally, like the brown pelican.
Be careful, however, Martinique can be proud to have so many species of birds, the fact remains that the island has already lost some of them and the causes are numerous. Intense hunting since the 17th century, the gradual disappearance of forests, the introduction of new predators (mongooses, cats) are responsible for the disappearance of certain species.
The introduction of new species could not compensate for the extinction of others. Moreover, the arrival of foreign competitors (pique-ox egret, Saint Lucian blackbird or Turkish turtledove) has pushed out of their usual niche local species which were sometimes endemic.
It should not be overlooked that avifauna is essential and a real wealth because birds actively participate in the reduction of insects (mosquitoes, flies in particular) and rodents, in the dissemination of seeds allowing the sowing of new fruit trees or not and of course to brighten up our landscapes!