5.2.8. Jamaican Blackbird Nesopsar nigerrimus
Although there are 8 different bird species on Jamaica that have predominately black feathers, the Jamaican Blackbird, whose vernacular name is Wild Pine Sergeant, is a distinctive member of the Icterid group. It is a monospecific genus, which is endemic to Jamaica. It occurs regularly but at low densities in the mid- and upper elevations of Cockpit Country, wherever the trees have many small epiphytic bromeliads or Phyllogonium moss, but is usually absent from exposed, dry slopes. Experts considered the population size of the Jamaican Blackbird to be "GOOD" - sufficient for genetically viable reproduction, recognizing that the species has not been detected as occurring in smaller forest fragments but does occur in the Wet Limestone Forest of Worthy Park and Mount Diablo to the east of Cockpit Country

Although the Jamaican Blackbird, along with all forest-dependent passerine bird species, are considered nested targets of the Wet Limestone Forest Target, local and international ornithologists are concerned because of the arrival to Jamaica in the late 1980s of the Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis, a brood parasite that is expanding its natural range from South America through the Lesser and Greater Antilles. The Shiny Cowbird has had devastating effects on Puerto Rico's Yellow-shouldered Blackbird Agelaius xanthomus, which is now listed as critically endangered. The Shiny Cowbird appears to be restricted to open habitats, preferring dry coast shrubland and agriculture/pastures but has been recorded once in Windsor on the north side of Cockpit Country and is seen frequently south of Maggotty, southwest of Cockpit Country (Tables 17 & 18).