Coereba flaveola
The Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a small, energetic passerine renowned for its vibrant coloration and opportunistic feeding habits across the Neotropics. Typically measuring 10-12 cm in length and weighing 7-13 grams, it sports a distinctive slate-gray to black back, a bright yellow belly and rump, and a prominent white supercilium that contrasts with its black head. Its slender, decurved bill is a key field mark, perfectly adapted for nectar feeding. Taxonomically, it belongs to the fami...
Primarily found in a wide variety of open to semi-open habitats, including tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, plantations, gardens, and urban areas. It thrives from sea level up to moderate elevations, typically around 2,000 meters.
Primarily nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, supplemented with small insects, spiders, and small ripe fruits; often engages in 'nectar robbing' by piercing flower bases.
A highly active and agile diurnal bird, the Bananaquit is often observed singly or in pairs, though it can congregate in numbers at abundant food sources. It roosts solitarily in dense foliage or shrubs, finding cover from predators. Its foraging strategy is remarkably opportunistic and acrobatic...
The Bananaquit boasts an extensive geographic distribution, spanning from southern Mexico through Central America, across the vast majority of the Caribbean islands, and throughout northern and central South America as far south as northern Argentina and Paraguay. It is a non-migratory resident s...
Least Concern
- The Bananaquit is one of the most widespread and abundant passerines in the Neotropics, thriving even in urban environments and often becoming quite tame around humans. - It was historically placed in its own monotypic family, Coerebidae, before genetic evidence led to its reclassification into...