National Bird: Cigua Palmera

From the Dulidae family, the Palm Chat is endemic to Hispaniola and is not related to other species. It lives in flocks and raises its young in a large nest that has various compartments. Fruits, flowers and small insects serve as its food.

Its size, on average, is 20 centimeters in length. Its body is olive colored, while its wings tend to be green. Its underbelly is the color of café latte or a pale yellow, with brown stripes. The head has a darker color and the beak is strong. Both sexes are similar.

The Palm Chat lives in open fields, but prefers palms, in low elevations. To make its nest, it gathers dry twigs, which it places in the top of a palm or other tree. The bed can reach up to two meters wide by one meter high. Various couples undertake the large construction job, which features tunnels and multiple nests.

Its name, Dulus dominicus, is attributed to Carlos Linnacus, who discovered it in 1766.

The American Union of Orinthology includes the Palm Chat in the Dulidae family on its list of birds of the world.