Mimus gundlachii


In Cuba the Bahama Mockingbird is restricted to just a couple of cays, the most accessible of which, Cayo Guillermo, is where this photograph was taken. The species has declined as a result of competition from the invasive Northern Mockingbird, which has reached Cayo Guillermo only in recent decades and already seems to have pushed its Bahamian congener into the western half of the island. Unlike the Northern Mockingbird, Bahama Mockingbird is also less tolerant of human development of its habitat. As Cuba continues to develop its tourist infrastructure, hotel building is ongoing on both Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, further limiting available habitat for birds.