Jamaican National Bird
The doctor bird or swallow tail humming bird Tricilus Polytmus), is endemic to Jamaica. It is one of the most outstanding of the 320 species of hummingbirds. Their beautiful feathers have no counterpart in the entire bird population and they produce iridescent colors characteristic only of that family. The mature male has long tails which stream behind him when he flies. For years, the doctor bird has been immortalized in Jamaican folklore and song.
The origin of the name ‘Doctor-bird’ is somewhat unsettled. It has been said that the name was given because the erect black crest and tails resemble the top hat and long tail coats doctors used to wear in the past. Other schools of thought believe that it refers to the way the birds lance the flowers with their bills to extract nectar.
According to Frederic Cassidy the bird is an object of superstition. The Arawaks spread the belief that the bird had magical powers. They called it the ‘God bird’, believing it was the reincarnation of dead souls. The bird moves very fast and illusive and cannot be easily killed.
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