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Click here to go back Details of this species in Lesser Antilles Status: Native Invasiveness: Not invasive Occurrence: Established Source: Friedmann, 1929 Arrival Date: Introduction: Species Notes for this Location: Shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis subspecies minimus is known to be present in the Lesser Antilles. Mangrove forests seem to be the preferred lowland habitat of the species in the Antilles (Post and Wiley 1977, Post et al. 1990, in Kluza 1998). Management Notes for this Location: Location Notes: Impacts: Reduction in native biodiversity: As the shiny cowbird has moved through the Antilles host species have been shown to include vireos, the Dendroica warblers, Myiarchus flycatchers and Agelaius blackbirds. Icterids (orioles, blackbirds, cowbirds and allies) are favored shiny cowbird hosts and endemic Antillian island birds are especially vulnerable to brood parasitism. Some island populations face the combined threat of habitat loss and intensive brood parasitism (Post & Wiley 1977; Cruz et al. 1985 1989; Post et al. 1990, in Lovette, Bermingham and Ricklefs 1999). In the Lesser Antillies, for example, the endangered Martinique Oriole (Icterus bonana) population declined primarily as a result of intensive brood parasitism by M. bonariensis (Babbs et al. 1987, in Lovette, Bermingham and Ricklefs, 1999). Last Modified: 22/03/2005 4:02:44 p.m.