Honeycreepers
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Chlorophanes |
The Honeycreepers are small birds in the tanager family. They are found in the tropical New World from Mexico south to Brazil.
They occur in the forest canopy, and, as the name implies, they are specialist nectar feeders with long curved bills.
There are five species in two genera.
The four Cyanerpes species have colourful legs, long wings and a short tail. The males are typically glossy purple-blue and the females greenish.
Green Honeycreeper has a larger, stouter bill than the Cyanerpes group, and is less heavily dependent on nectar.
Species list
- Genus Chlorophanes
- Green Honeycreeper, Chlorophanes spiza
- Genus Cyanerpes
- Short-billed Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes nitidus
- Shining Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes lucidus
- Purple Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes caeruleus
- Red-legged Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes cyaneus
References
- Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
- Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1