Adaptations of an avian supertramp: distribution, ecology, and life history of the pearly-eyed thrasher (Margarops fuscatus).

Abstract

Part B The pearly-eyed thrasher is a major nest predator and competitor for nest sites of the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. In all aspects of its distribution and ecology, Margarops fuscatus is a classic example of an avian “supertramp.” It is a pugnacious, highly vagile species, i.e., a good disperser, with a propensity to fill vacant or underexploited niches at all elevations by adopting generalized nesting and foraging strategies, as well as a varied diet. Having evolved superior colonizing traits at the expense of strong competitive characters, it is confined to about 80 generally small, often disturbed, species-poor islands and habitats throughout the Caribbean. The pearly-eye’s future depends on its ability to adapt to the everchanging conditions in the region’s natural and anthropogenic environments.

Citation

Arendt, Wayne J. 2006. Adaptations of an avian supertramp: distribution, ecology, and life history of the pearly-eyed thrasher (Margarops fuscatus). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry,Gen. Tech. Rep. 27.