Dulidae – Palmchat

Palmchat Dulus dominicus ©Eladio Fernandez

The palmchat Dulus dominicus is a small, long-tailed passerine bird, the only species in the genus Dulus and the family Dulidae. It is thought to be related to the waxwings, family Bombycillidae, and is sometimes classified with that group. The name reflects its strong association with palms for feeding, roosting and nesting. It is the national bird of the Dominican Republic.

Palmchats are about 20 cm in length. They are olive-brown above, and cream-buff, heavily streaked with brown, below. Their rumps and the edges of their primary feathers are dark yellow-green. They have strong yellow bills and russet eyes. They lack the soft silky plumage of the waxwings or silky-flycatchers. Adults are alike in appearance; immature birds have dark throats.

The species is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), including the adjacent Saona and Gonâve Islands, where it is common and widespread. It inhabits areas from sea-level to 1500m above sea-level where palm savannas can be found, or other open areas with scattered trees. Where its food trees are present (they feed on fruits and berries, including those of palms and of the Gumbo-limbo tree, as well as on flowers, especially those of epiphytic orchids), it has adapted well to city parks and gardens.

Palmchats are very sociable birds, often seen in small flocks containing several pairs which will roost closely together with their bodies in contact. They are voluble and noisy birds, with a large repertoire of gurgling and cheeping sounds constantly used in their social behaviour.

The breeding season is mainly from March to June. The birds build large, messy, communal nests of twigs in the crowns of palms (mainly royal palms Roystonea). Occasionally, in the absence of palms, other trees or even telephone poles, may be used. The whole nesting structure may be up to 2 m across, containing up to 30 adjoining nests with their own separate chambers and entrances. The females lay clutches of 2-4 thickly spotted, grey-purple eggs.

Species List

There is just one species in this family, which is:

Palmchat Dulus dominicus

Species Links
  • Palmchat Dulus dominicus

    Species Account
    Very nice Image + The Palmchat is endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean where it is common. In fact, it was the very first bird we saw in the Dominican Republic from our hotel in the capital city of Santo Domingo. It particularly favors Royal palms Roystonea, and gregarious gangs of Palmchats are frequent wherever the palms occur. They build large communal nests but our visit was apparently during the non-breeding season…
  • Palmchat Dulus dominicus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map.
  • Palmchat Dulus dominicus

    Species Account
    The palmchat, the Cigua Palmera in Spanish, is the national bird of Dominican Republic, and its scientific name is Dulus dominicus. This family is endemic of La Hispaniola, and there is only one member. The Cigua Palmera lives in any environment but prefers settling in the palm plantations. There are many of these on the Saona Island.
Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 1

Useful Information
  • The Palmchat is the national bird of the Dominican Republic and is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see our sister site: WAND

Skip to content