Cuban Solitaire Myadestes elisabeth Scientific name definitions

A strict Cuban endemic, the Cuban Solitaire ‘makes up’ for its drab, unassuming, generally olivaceous brown plumage by its remarkable voice, and it is usually considered the most accomplished songster in the country. On the main island of Cuba, the species is exclusively restricted to the mountains of the far west and the extreme east, where it favors semi-deciduous woodlands and pine forests, often in close proximity to limestone cliff-faces, which the males make ample use of, to improve and amplify their songs’ rather harsh harmonics. The Cuban Solitaire was formerly also found on the Isle of Youth, where it was represented by a relatively poorly marked separate subspecies, but it is now considered to be extinct there. This solitaire is known to breed in May to July at least, when it constructs a cup nest either in the crevice on a cliff-face or in a tree-cavity, and the species lays three eggs.

19–20·5 cm; 21·5–33 g. Nominate race has narrow whitish eyering, dull whitish lores and broad submoustachial area, dark brown malar line; rest of head and upperparts olive-brown, with warmer brown tertials, base of secondaries and edges of primaries; whitish outer tail feathers; chin to vent dull whitish, slightly greyer across breast; upper mandible blackish, lower horn-coloured with dusky tip; legs yellowish-brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile is fairly similar to adult, but flecked and streaked buff above, mottled brown on breast and flanks. Race retrusus is slightly greyer above than nominate, with pale buff preocular supercilium, almost pure white below, bill reportedly different.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Dense humid hill and montane semi-deciduous and pine (Pinus) forest; mainly in canopy; appears to need steep limestone cliffs for nesting.

Song loud, ringing, flute-like and melodious, ventriloquial and far-carrying, “like rubbing a wet finger against the rim of a fine porcelain cup”, similar to that of M. genibarbis. Call short and whistle-like.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Cuba EBA. Common but rather local; in W Cuba found only in Sierra de los Órganos, Sierra del Rosario and Sierra de la Güira (all in Pinar del Río province), and in E Cuba in Sierra Maestra, Sierra del Magüey, Sierra de Moa, Toa and Baracoa. Known in total from at least 15 localities in W Cuba and 21 in E (1 Blanco Rodríguez, P. and Sánchez Oria, B. (2012). Myadestes elisabeth. Pp. 254–257 in:. Close ). Has been found at densities of 0·38–0·75 birds / ha in optimal habitat (1 Blanco Rodríguez, P. and Sánchez Oria, B. (2012). Myadestes elisabeth. Pp. 254–257 in:. Close ). Sensitive to habitat change, and thought to be at some risk owing to continuing habitat loss. Chicks are taken from nests to be used as caged songbirds, although they do not survive in captivity (1 Blanco Rodríguez, P. and Sánchez Oria, B. (2012). Myadestes elisabeth. Pp. 254–257 in:. Close ). Population stronghold of Pinar del Río province considered relatively secure, but forest elsewhere being converted to farmland and plantations. Occurs in ten protected areas, including Viñales National Park (IUCN Cat. II; 111 km²) in Pinar del Río province, W Cuba; and Pico Cristal (IUCN Cat. II; 185 km²), Pico La Bayamesa (IUCN Cat. II; 242 km²), Turquino (IUCN Cat. II; 229 km²) and Alejandro de Humboldt (IUCN Cat. II; 708 km²) National Parks in E Cuba. Race retrusus on I of Pines almost certainly extinct, believed to have died out in 1930s, although reported in about 1970. Considered Vulnerable at the national level in Cuba (2 González Alonso, H. L., L. R. Schettino, A. Rodríguez, C. A. Mancina, and I. Ramos García, Editors (2012). Libro Rojo de los Vertebrados de Cuba. Editorial Academia, La Habana, Cuba. Close ).