NATURAL HISTORY

ST. LUCIA FOREST THRUSH } Cichlherminia Iherminieri sanctaeluciae
FAMILY: Turdidae

DESCRIPTION: This medium-sized bird has dark upperparts; white spots on its breast, flanks, and upper belly; and a white lower belly.

HABITAT: The thrush prefers mid- and high-altitude primary and secondary moist forest habitat.

RANGE: The St. Lucia forest thrush is endemic to the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies.

MIGRATION: This bird is not known to migrate.

BREEDING: The thrush breeds in April and May. It has a clutch size of two to three blue-green eggs.

LIFE CYCLE: Little is known about the lifespan of this bird.

FEEDING: The St. Lucia forest thrush feeds on insects and berries from the ground to the forest canopy.

THREATS: This thrush is currently threatened primarily by deforestation due to intensive agriculture and road-construction activities.

POPULATION TREND: The St. Lucia forest thrush is extremely rare. Only six confirmed sightings of the bird have occurred in the last few years, and a survey in 2007 turned up no birds at all.

St. Lucia forest thrush photo © Sveta Ashby/
www.birdfinders.co.uk