Three Lifers in Three Months

White-crowned Pigeon - Patagioenas leucocephala

In January it was the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), February the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) and March brings a White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala), three local lifers in three months.  The first record of this latest species on the island was at Moncrieffe, St. John on April 9^th, 2014 and then at Warrens, St. Michael in 2016.  The first recorded sighting this year was on March 8^th at the same location of the first ever record, Moncrieffe, St. John.  Then there was another sighting at Chancery Lane on March 16^th.  My sighting on the 19^th at The Graeme Hall Swamp may have highlighted a movement in this species to the island and time will tell if it becomes established here.

White-crowned Pigeons are between 13-14” in length, dark grey with a contrasting white-crown.  It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species   because of hunting, mainly in the US, and loss of habitat, which is the main problem in the Caribbean. 

These birds normally nest in coastal mangroves throughout the Caribbean and are fading due to the effect of natural disasters and encroachment by man for development and agriculture.

It is a resident breeder mainly in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Antigua.  It breeds in smaller numbers in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla and a few other Caribbean islands.  It can also be found in the Florida Keys - the southern tip of mainland Florida and also along the Caribbean coast of Central America.

Finding so many birds on the island, especially in the coastal wet areas at Chancery Lane and Graeme Hall has excited local birders to the prospect of them breeding here.  There is no evidence of that thus far but I will keep you updated.

Excited!! Enjoy Your Birding!!