Bird stamps issued for Mustique, a private island part of the Grenadines island chain within the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
1. Philatelic Overview of Mustique Stamps
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Issuing Authority Status: Mustique is not an independent postal administration. Instead, like other islands in the Grenadines (such as Bequia, Canouan, and Union Island), it issues stamps under the authority of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
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Target Audience: These issues are primarily produced for the international thematic and topically-focused philatelic market (especially collectors focusing on fauna, wildlife, and Birds on Stamps).
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Production & Distribution: Many of Mustique’s colorful thematic issues—including its bird and nature sets—are managed, marketed, and distributed via agencies like the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation (IGPC).
2. Notable Bird Stamp Issues & Design Characteristics
Mustique has periodically released vibrant sets and miniature sheets (souvenir sheets) dedicated to the rich avifauna of the Caribbean.
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The 2018 Caribbean Birds Issue (March 21, 2018):
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Format: A striking miniature sheet (sheetlet) consisting of 4 values.
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Denominations: Face values typically ranged across higher regional values ($5, $6, $7, $8).
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Variants: Released in standard perforated quantities as well as limited imperforate variants for specialized collectors.
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Prior and Subsequent Issues:
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Mustique has seen scattered thematic releases (such as selections featuring regional fauna, seabirds, and local tropical species like the Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) and kingfishers like the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) appearing on joint Caribbean bird themes around 2003 and 2011).
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Designs characteristically feature vivid, multi-colored artwork showcasing both native local wildlife and wider regional Caribbean migratory species.
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3. Context: The Bird Life of Mustique
The depiction of birds on Mustique stamps mirrors the island's actual biodiversity. Ornithologically, Mustique hosts over 100 recorded bird species, spanning coastal seabirds, herons, migratory shorebirds, and Lesser Antillean endemics. Popular indigenous or regional species frequently celebrated in Caribbean topical stamps include:
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Herons and Egrets (such as the Yellow-crowned Night Heron)
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Seabirds and Terns (common across the Grenadines chain)
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Local Landbirds (such as flycatchers, mockingbirds, and grassquits)
4. Collecting and Market Insights
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Cataloging: In major stamp catalogs (such as Scott), these are typically listed under Saint Vincent - Grenadines (Mustique).
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Condition & Value: Because they are modern thematic issues (mostly dating from the late 20th century onward), mint condition sets (Mint Never Hinged - MNH) and miniature sheets are generally affordable and widely available through global online stamp merchants and the IGPC. Imperforate varieties and complete thematic sheetlets carry modest premiums among specialized topicals collectors.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
2003.01
08.09.2003
United we stand
2$
78
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2003.02
05.11.2003
Caribbean birds
1$
57
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
1.10$
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
1.40$
90
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
2$
21
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
2003.03
05.11.2003
Caribbean birds
5$
73
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
MS
2011.01
01.08.2011
Birds of the Caribbean
Sheet
Click on thumbnail to launch image in popup 
2$
223
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus
2$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
2$
73
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
2$
107
Brown-throated Parakeet Eupsittula pertinax
2$
256
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
2$
107
Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna
2011.02
01.08.2011
Birds of the Caribbean
Sheet
2.50$
70
Great Egret Ardea alba
2.50$
235
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
2.50$
107
Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala
2.50$
35
American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
2011.03
01.08.2011
Birds of the Caribbean
6$
8
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
MS
6$
107
Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severus
MS
2014.01
05.05.2014
Ducks I
Sheet
3.25$
8
Common Eider Somateria mollissima
3.25$
8
Falcated Duck Mareca falcata
3.25$
8
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
3.25$
8
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
2014.02
05.05.2014
Ducks I
2v sheet
5$
8
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
2014.03
05.05.2014
Ducks II
Sheet
3.25$
8
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
3.25$
8
Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
3.25$
8
Red Shoveler Spatula platalea
3.25$
8
Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
2014.04
05.05.2014
Ducks II
Sheet
5$
8
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
5$
8
Falkland Steamer Duck Tachyeres brachypterus
2014.05
14.08.2014
Animals of the tundra
9v sheet
2$
78
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2$
13
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta
2$
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
2018.01
21.03.2018
Caribbean birds
Sheet
5$
91
Cuban Tody Todus multicolor
6$
21
Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus
7$
8
Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
7$
108
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
2018.02
21.03.2018
Caribbean birds
Sheet
7$
69
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
8$
69
Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber
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