Bananaquit
|
|
| Bananaquit | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a passerine bird, the only member of the genus Coereba (Vieillot, 1809) and the family Coerebidae. It is resident in tropical South America north to southern Mexico and the Caribbean. It is a rare visitor to Florida, USA.
The Bananaquit is a very small bird (length 11 cm). It has a slender, curved bill, adapted to taking nectar from flowers. It sometimes pierces flowers from the side, taking the nectar without pollinating the plant. It cannot hover like a hummingbird, and must always perch while feeding. It will also eat fruit and insects. It often visits gardens and may become very tame.
Upperparts are dark grey with a black crown to the head and yellow underparts and rump. The Bananaquit has a prominent white eyestripe. Sexes are alike.
On Grenada and Saint Vincent, most Bananaquits have black plumage, suggesting divergence from other West Indian populations.
Bananaquits build spherical lined nests with a side entrance hole, laying up to three eggs.
- Family: Coerebidae
- Bananaquit, Coereba flaveolada:Banansmutte