Cuban blackbird

The Cuban blackbird (Ptiloxena atroviolacea) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae.

Cuban blackbird
In Havana, Cuba
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Icteridae
Genus:	Ptiloxena Chapman, 1892
Species:	P. atroviolacea
Binomial name
Ptiloxena atroviolacea (d'Orbigny, 1839)
Range of P. atroviolacea
Synonyms
Ptiloxena atroviolaceus Dives atroviolaceus

Taxonomy

It was previously placed in Dives, but now classified in its own genus, Ptiloxena.^[2]

Description

Measuring 27 cm (11 in) long, this species has entirely black plumage with a slight violet sheen on the upperparts. The only non-black body part is the brown eye.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

It is endemic to Cuba, where it is widespread and common. It is entirely absent from the Isla de la Juventud and some of the offshore cays.^[3] Its natural habitats are lowland moist forests and heavily degraded former forest.

A Cuban blackbird in Pinar del Rio Province