Palmchat Dulidae
The Palmchat is the sole member of it's family. It is endemic to Hispaniola, an island shared between the two countries Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Along with the todies Todidae, they are the only two bird families endemic to the West Indies. Taxonomists generally agree that the Palmchat is closely related to waxwings Bombycillidae and silky-flycatchers Ptilogonatidae. This is despite the fact that it actually looks more like an Old World oriole Oriolidae.


Dulus

This species is the only member of the family.

The Palmchat Dulus dominicus is the national bird of the Dominican Republic, where it is considered to be the most abundant species. It is a conspicuous bird that builds huge communal nests made of twigs. Each nest may contain several pairs, each with their own individual entrance. This bird was photographed on top of a royal palm Roystonea hispaniolana at the botanical gardens in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.



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