Pleistocene Birds from New Providence Island, Bahamas

Abstract

Only 4 of 15 species of birds from a Pleistocene deposit on New Providence still exist on the island. The other species either are extinct or occur now farther south in the Bahamils and Greater Antilles. The extinct forms in include 2 raptors previously known only from Great Exuma Island and 6 new species: Caracara creightoni, Burhinus nanus, Glaucidium dickinsoni, Otus providentiae, Bathoceleus hyphalus (new genus, Picidae), and Corvus wetmorei. The fossil deposit is assigned to the pre-Pamlico portion of the Wisconsin glacial stage, when the sea had retreated to the 10-fathom mark to expose a large land mass which reached within 10 miles of Cuba. At this time the avifauna of the Bahamas appears to have been about 40 percent richer than at present. The faurial tie to the Greater Antilles, particularly Cuba, was strong, while the relationship to Florida was weaker than today.