Melanerpes superciliaris superciliaris


This bird had a nest outside our chalet at the Guanhacabibes Peninsula. The species' English name is something of a misnomer, implying as it does a somewhat wide range through the Antilles, although it is in fact confined to Cuba, some of the Bahamas and the Caymans. At least two races occur on Cuba, the nominate depicted here, which occurs on the main island and the main cays of the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago off the north coast, and the race murceus on the Isle of Pines and Cayo Largo and Cayo Real, off the south coast. However, some authors recognise additional races, namely florentinoi for those on Cayo Largo and sanfelipensis for the birds on Cayo Real. Three other races are recognised for those in the Bahamas and Caymans.