Montserrat Oriole
The males are glossy black and yellow in colour, while the females are a more subdued olive green. They live in the damp gullies in the mountainous forest areas of the Island. They have a very specialised way of nesting, using their very fine pointed beaks, they intricately weave a basket shaped nest under a Banana leaf, the leaf acts as an umbrella and sun shade, protecting the fragile nest from the heavy tropical rains and burning sun.
During the late 1990’s a large volcano erupted on the Island causing massive amounts of damage to the Orioles habitat. In an effort to save the species from extinction, conservationists from Jersey Zoo brought a small number back from Montserrat in 1999 and were able to successfully breed the species for the first time and it is from these original bird that our Chester birds originate.
Chester Zoo’s Montserrat Orioles are housed in the Tropical Realm and are part of a managed captive breeding programme.
Photograph courtesy of James Morgan.
Species Information
Where they live: Only occur on the tiny Caribbean Island of Montserrat.
Habitat: Damp gullies in the montane and hill rainforest, they build their nests under the leaves of Banana and Heliconia plants.
Diet: Mostly insects and other invertebrates, but also eats some fruit.
Weight: 35 grams
Conservation status: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
Threats: Loss of habitat due to the massive damage caused by the Soufriere Hills Volcano. Predation of eggs, young and incubating birds by introduced rats. Loss of suitable nest sites, (Banana plants) which are severely damaged or destroyed by feral pigs, which were abandoned by local farmers when the Volcano erupted.