Puerto Rico Territorial Bird
Puerto Rican Spindalis (common name)  Spindalis portoricensis (scientific name) Overview The Puerto Rican spindalis, or reina mora, is a small fruit-eating bird native to the northern Caribbean Islands. The male has a black head with white stripes above and below the eyes, an olive green back, a yellow neck, and an orange breast. The tail and wings are black with a white bar on the wing. Females are more of a brownish-green on their backs and are larger than males. The tiny bird eats nectar, fruit (figs, blackberries, cecropia, inga vera), lizards, and insects (particularly aphids). The reina morasings a series of extremely high-pitched notes from its roost high in the forest canopy or while circling over its roost. The bird’s calls include "whispers," a weak "tseet," and a "chi chi chi" sound. Its nest can be a small cup or a thick, deep nest. The bird’s demure beauty and communal nature are important factors in its popularity in Puerto Rico. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS Puerto Rican striped-headed tanager, stripe-headed tanager, reina mora, reinita mora PHYSICAL DETAILS    Male Female  Size Length to end of tail: 6 in (17 cm) Wing from flexure: 3–3.5 in (8.2–8.9 cm) Length of tail: 2.3–2.5 in (5.9–6.3 cm) Length to end of tail: 6 in (17 cm) Wing from flexure: 3.2–3.4 in (8–8.6 cm) Length of tail: 2.2–2.6 in (5.6–6.6 cm)  Weight 8–1.3 oz (22.5–37 g) 1–1.5 oz. (28–41.1 g) BEHAVIOR Travels in pairs or small flocks and can be seen foraging anywhere from the forest floor to the high canopy, looking for ripe fruit. Flocks nest together, and "mobs" of reina moras have been known to attack predators like snakes in order to defend their eggs and hatchlings. HABITAT Lives in forests, plantations, and suburban gardens, typically at altitudes of around 1,000 feet. Breeds in mixed deciduous and pine forests at higher altitudes, especially forest edges near ponds, meadows, plantations, or other clearings. Winters at lower altitudes in humid tropical forests, open woodlands, river valleys, coastal palm tree stands, and ravines. Range: From the Bahamas in the east, through Puerto Rico’s central highlands to the islands of the Greater Antilles, ending at the island of Cozumel off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. In Puerto Rico it is found in the humid forests of the central highlands, especially the El Yunque forests and near Maricao. Migration: Non-migratory Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) NESTING Nesting Period: 1 month Size of Clutch: 2-4 eggs Incubation Period: 10 days Egg Description: Light Blue with brown speckling Egg Size: .7-.9 in (1.7-2.4 cm) SIMILAR SPECIES Swainson’s thrush, Bicknell’s thrush, Jamaican spindalis, Hispaniolan spindalis, western spindalis TRIVIA La Reina Mora means "The Dark Queen" or "The Gypsy Queen" in Spanish. The bird’s name is also a reference to a very old Spanish tale of a beautiful gypsy girl who tricks a prince into marrying her. The bird’s coloration may have been considered similar to that of colorful gypsy garb.  Because the Puerto Rican spindalis forages over a wide area seeking ripe fruit, it is an important disseminator of the seeds of forest plants.
	Click to enlarge an image Illustration of Puerto Rican Spindalis Brightly Striped Puerto Rican Spindalis CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae Genus: Spindalis Species: S. portoricensis
	Author: World Trade Press