Palmchat

Dulus dominicus

Meet the Palmchat, a special little birds that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola. It also has the designation of being the national bird of the Dominican Republic.

Why is the Palmchat so special? Because it is the only member of its entire family! Its taxonomy has been a bit disputed from there, but some believe that is it most closely related to the Waxwings, a group of birds that pretty far away from the Palmchat's island.

Palmchats live in flocks and inhabit semi-open areas. They are herbivores that forage for fruits, berries, and even flowers. The species is very social, and they produce a variety of loud calls.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern

Location : Hispaniola
Size : Length 8in (20cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Dulidae -- Genus : Dulus-- Species : D. dominicus