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The status of the Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris on Caye Caulker, Belize

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Bruce Miller  and
Carolyn Miller
Bruce Miller
Affiliation:
Gallon Jug, Belize, Central America
Carolyn Miller
Affiliation:
Gallon Jug, Belize, Central America
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Summary

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An evaluation of the relative abundance of the Black Catbird Melanoptila glabrirostris was undertaken on Caye Caulker, an offshore island along the barrier reef of Belize, Central America. Although the species is locally abundant in part of the Sian Kaàn Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, the species is facing habitat fragmentation and loss due to development, both along the Mexican coastal areas and on the island habitats in Belize. The Caye Caulker population appears to be the largest in Belize. Transects of fixed radius point counts resulted in 15.5% and mist-netting resulted in 22.4% of all birds recorded being Black Catbirds. The Neotropical migrant Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis apparently shares the same habitat on Caye Caulker and comprised 11.2% of all birds netted. The netted Black Catbirds were noted to have substantial fat deposits. The habitat on Caye Caulker is facing probable fragmentation from recent accelerated land speculation and development of an airstrip.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 1 , Issue 3 , September 1991 , pp. 283 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1991

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