During the development of this project, it was possible to study and obtain information about the species’ natural history for the first time in 175 years since its original description. Supported by a team of enthusiastic birdwatchers, Nils monitored several breeding pairs in both northern and southern eastern Cuba, making it possible to describe the nest, eggs, and chicks, as well as gather data on the breeding period.The most significant outcome of the project was the recording and description of its vocalizations, previously unknown until now, along with the phenotypic and phenological characterization of the Cuban population.
All of this information provided sufficient evidence to reconsider its current taxonomic status as a subspecies and restore the original status under which it was first described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1927. As a result, the Cuban population would become part of the list of endemic bird species whose populations are considered Endangered due to their restricted distribution and habitat loss.
This project was made possible thanks to the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, The Peregrine Fund, Caribbean Conservation Trust, Idea Wild, Optics for the Tropics, Parque Humboldt, and Parque Nacional Desembarco del Granma.
