Jamaica is a small island in the Caribbean Sea with lush rainforests and white sandy beaches. You might think Jamaica would choose one of the large colorful parrots to represent their country, like the green-billed parrot but when you see the national bird you will understand why it was chosen. Read on to find out all about the national bird of Jamaica!
What is the National Bird of Jamaica?
The national bird of Jamaica is the swallow-tail hummingbird. These beautiful hummingbirds go by several names including the doctor bird, red-billed streamer tail and scissor-tail. The male swallow-tails have long black tail feathers that look like streamers flowing from their tails. Iridescent green feathers cover their small bodies and shimmer in the sun. Their heads and tails have black feathers and they have a long, thin red beak.
Why are they Called Doctor Birds?
Some say the nickname “doctor bird” comes from the long tail feathers that look like the coat tails of coats worn by doctors. The black heads of the hummingbird also look a bit like a top hat also worn by doctors.
How Big are Swallow-tail Hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. The swallow-tail is around 4-5 inches long but has a tail that is just as long at 4-5 more inches. Only the males have the long tail feathers and the males are a tad bigger than the females. An average hummingbird only weighs about 3 grams…that’s about the same weight as a penny.
The tiniest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird. These tiny birds are about half the size of the swallow-tail being about 2 inches long and only weighing 1.5 grams. Bee hummingbirds are native to Cuba. You will also find them in Jamaica and Haiti.
The tiniest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird. These tiny birds are about half the size of the swallow-tail being about 2 inches long and only weighing 1.5 grams.
©iStock.com/epantha
Where do Swallow-tail Hummingbirds live?
Swallow-tail hummingbirds live throughout the island of Jamaica. You will see less in the east and they are no longer on the northeastern coast. One of the reasons the Jamaican people have an affection for the hummingbird is because these birds frequently live near humans; in parks, gardens and along trails. Swallow-tails are pretty adaptable and can live in plantations and along the edge of forests.
Swallow-tail hummingbirds live throughout the island of Jamaica.
© wael alreweie/Shutterstock.com
What are Hummingbirds Favorite Flowers?
Hummingbirds use their long beaks to extract the nectar out of flowers. Brightly colored tubular flowers attract them. Jamaica has beautiful gardens and a variety of wild flowering plants. Some of the flowers that hummingbirds love include:
- Passion flower vine: with purple blooms
- Cigar plant: a shrub that has tubular reddish orange flowers
- Fire spike: with bright red, fire-like blooms
- China hat: evergreen shrub with orange-red flowers with a tubular center
- Red tassel tree: also known as the powder puff tree, has red-colored “fluffy” blooms
- Pepper hibiscus: tree-like plant with red blooms
Hummingbirds use their long beaks to extract the nectar out of flowers. Brightly colored tubular flowers attract them, like this passion flower.
©iStock.com/Shedu
Is the Swallow-tail Hummingbird Featured on the Jamaican Flag?
No. The Jamaican flag has a yellow “X” across it with the top and bottom triangle being green and the left and right triangle being black. The colors of the flag represent:
- Black: strength and creativity
- Gold: natural wealth and beauty of sunlight
- Green: hope and agricultural resources
The Jamaican flag has a yellow “X” across it with the top and bottom triangle being green and the left and right triangle being black.
©iStock.com/EA
Is the Swallow-tail Hummingbird Featured on the Jamaican Money?
The swallow-tail hummingbird used to be on the back of the 25 cent coin but it is no longer in circulation. It was demonetized on February 15, 2018. The Coat of Arms of Jamaica is currently on all of the coins. The banknotes feature famous people on the front and on the back there is the Doctor’s Cove Beach, Montego Bay, Dunn’s River Falls, an old map of Jamaica highlighting Port Royal and Jamaica House.
What Animal is on the Jamaican Coat of Arms?
The crocodile is on the Jamaican Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms features a shield with five pineapples on it and two Taino (Arawak) standing on either side, the female is on the left and the male on the right. On top of the shield is the Royal Helmet and Mantlings and on top of that is a crocodile.
The crocodile is on the Jamaican Coat of Arms.
©Yaroslaff/Shutterstock.com
What Kind of Crocodile Lives in Jamaica?
The American crocodile lives in Jamaica. They mostly live on the southern coast. American crocodiles can get to be 16 feet long and they are carnivores (meat eaters). They live in brackish wetlands, rivers and swamps. American crocodiles are “Vulnerable” by the IUCN database on the last assessment in February of 2020. The threats in Jamaica are the same as other countries, hunting and habitat loss. For years the American crocodile was listed as endangered so the conservational efforts to maintain and increase their populations is working, but more work still needs to be done.
The American crocodile lives in Jamaica. They mostly live on the southern coast.
©iStock.com/neil bowman
What other Animals Live in Jamaica?
For a small island country you would be surprised how many different animals live in Jamaica! One of the most unique animals in Jamaica shares a name with the swallow-tail hummingbird. The Jamaican swallow-tail butterfly is the largest butterfly in the Americas with a wing span of up to 6 inches! For reference a dinner plate is 10-12 inches, a salad plate is 8-10. That is one big butterfly!
Along the beaches and off the coast you will find sea turtles, manatee, crabs, booby, dolphins, whales and sharks. There are coral reefs off the shore (did you know coral is actually an animal?) with hundreds of fish and wildlife species. If you go snorkeling you may see parrotfish, angelfish, barjacks, clown fish, stingrays and squirrel fish. Out further you may find tuna, mackerel, marlin and swordfish.
What Kind of Parrots Live in Jamaica?
Jamaica could have chosen some of its more flashy birds as their national bird like the yellow-billed parrot, but instead they chose the swallow-tail hummingbird, a worthy choice. The beauty of the other birds on the island, especially some of the colorful parrots is also respected and admired. Besides yellow-billed parrots there are green-billed parrots and black-billed parrots. Parrots do have the ability to mimic human speech, so perhaps if you visit Jamaica, you hear a greeting from a friendly parrot’s welcome of “Hey mon!”.
The yellow-billed parrot is one of the many feathered residents of Jamaica.
©Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com
Up Next
- The Flag of Jamaica: History, Meaning and Symbolism
- 10 Sharks Found in the Caribbean Sea
- 10 Incredible Hummingbird Facts
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Fernando Calmon/Shutterstock.com
Sources
- OPM, Available here: https://opm.gov.jm/symbols/national-bird-the-doctor-bird
- ITIS, Available here: https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=555141#null
- IUCN Red List, Available here: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22687469/93153469#geographic-range
- Animal Diversity, Available here: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Trochilus_polytmus/
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the national bird of Jamaica?
The national bird of Jamaica is the swallow-tail hummingbird. These beautiful hummingbirds go by several names including the doctor bird, red-billed streamertail and scissor-tail.
Why are they nick-named doctor birds?
Some say the nickname “doctor bird” comes from the long tail feathers that look like the coat tails of coats worn by doctors. The black heads of the hummingbird also look a bit like a top hat also worn by doctors.
Are swallow-tail hummingbirds featured on Jamaican money?
The swallow-tail hummingbird used to be on the back of the 25 cent coin but it is no longer in circulation. It was demonetized on February 15, 2018.
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