The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123(2):229-235, 2011 
BIOLOGY AND STATUS OF THE BLACK CATBIRD 
(MELANOPTILA GLABRIROSTRIS) IN BELIZE 
R. ROY JOHNSON 12 AND LOIS T. HAIGHT 1 
ABSTRACT.—We studied the poorly understood Bluck Catbird (Melanopiila glahrirostris), a near threatened mimid, at 
Lighthouse Reef in northeastern Belize. A resident of coastal lowlands and offshore islands, this endemic species of the 
Yucatan Peninsula has been reported as extirpated from several localities and has declined in numbers at other sites. We 
found it relatively common on the larger of two islands that comprise Northern Two Cayes from 18 to 25 June 2005. It had 
not been reported there since first discovered at Lighthouse Reef in 1862 and was considered extirpated until we 
rediscovered it. The Black Catbird at Northern Two Cayes displayed fierce intraspecific territoriality and both males and 
females defended against aggressors. However, it exhibited no interspecific territoriality toward its nearest avian associate, 
die Mangrove Warbler (Dendroica petechia hryanti). It used wing-flashing in territorial defense, mating rituals, and while 
foraging on the ground. We estimated — 10 pairs of Black Catbirds in a 3-ha study area in the buttonwood-coconut 
(, Conocarpus-Cocos ) ecosystem hut made no attempt to estimate the size of an apparently larger population in the more 
extensive area of coastal scrub on the remainder of the island. The defended territory of the pair studied most extensively 
was 100 X 25 m, centering on a buttonwood (Conocarpus credits) grove and included numerous coconut (Cocos nucifera) 
trees. Received 19 September 2010. Accepted 5 Jamtary 2011. 
The Black Catbird (Melanopiila glahrirostris) 
is a sedentary endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula 
and adjacent Central America. It occurs largely in 
coastal lowlands and offshore islands (Mayr and 
Greenway 1960, Sibley and Monroe 1990, AOIJ 
1998). It is largely an edge species, partial to 
lowland humid and semiarid thickets and dense 
brush in coastal and riparian scrub but, at times, 
also occurs in interior forests and woodlands. 
Several species of woody plants are important 
to (he Black Catbird and affect its distribution 
ecologically and geographically. Morgenthaler 
(2003), in a study at Shipstern Nature Reserve, 
Belize found the species nesting in littoral 
vegetation, largely red mangrove (Rhizophora 
mangle), black mangrove ( Avicennia germinans), 
and sapodilla or sapote (MartiIkam zupvta). 
The species has been an enigma since its 
discovery in the mid-1800s. Almost every facet of 
this poorly studied species’ distribution, status, 
and life history has been problematic. The historic 
record for the species contains uncertainties and 
contradictory statements, dating to the question 
regarding the actual location from where the type 
specimen was taken. Originally reportedly from 
Honduras (AOU 1998). the species has not been 
recorded there since. Specimen and literature 
records suggest the species was not widely 
common although it has been common or 
abundant in scattered, local populations (Wood 
1 Johnson and Haight Environmental Consultants, 3755 
South Hunters Run, Tucson, AZ 85730. USA. 
'Corresponding author; e-mail: rroylois@aol.com 
et al. 1986. Garcia et al. 1994, Jones and Vallely 
2001). It was apparently extirpated from several 
localities where it was formerly recorded during 
the late 1800s and early 1900s, e.g.. Lighthouse 
and Glovers reefs, but was not found subsequently 
(Russell 1964. Jones and Vallely 2001, Jones 
2005). It was recorded early (Salvin and Goodman 
1879, Russell 1964) at Northern Two Cayes 
(NTC) and Half Moon Caye, islands on Light¬ 
house Reef (LHR). The species was not found 
later at NTC by Bond (1954) or at Half Moon 
Caye (Verncr 1961, and pers. comm, to S. M. 
Russell; Meerman 1996). The Black Catbird was 
considered extirpated at NTC (Jones and Vallely 
2001; Jones 2005; S. M. Russell, pers. comm.) 
until we rediscovered the species there in 2005. 
Many ornithological papers for the region have 
largely ignored the species despite evidence of 
declining populations. This decline was suggested 
early for Belize by Russell (1964) who reported 
the Black Catbird” had not been recorded there 
between 1931 and 1964. Others have indicated 
uncertainty of its status by use of question marks 
(Phillips 1986. Howell and Webb 1995). 
The Black Catbird was described by Sclater in 
1858 (AOU 1998), The type specimen was labeled 
Omoa, Honduras but the species has not since been 
recorded from that country. Most references 
question the Omoa record (Phillips 1986) and 
consider the probability the type specimen was 
taken in British Honduras, now Belize (Monroe 
1968, Ridgely and Gwynne 1989). 
Most consider Melanopiila a monotvpic genus 
with one subspecies (Phillips 1986). A second 
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