Green honeycreeper

Chlorophanes spiza

Photo by Dario Sanches (Wikipedia)

Common name:

green honeycreeper (en); saí-verde (pt); guit-guit émeraude (fr); mielero verde (es); kappennaschvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Thraupidae

Range:

The green honeycreeper is found in the Americas, from southern Mexico down to Peru, Bolivia and southern Brazil. They are also found in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

Size:

These birds are 12,5-14 cm long. They weigh 17-19 g.

Habitat:

This forest species is mostly found in secondary woodland and rain forests, typically high up in the canopy. They may also be found in forest clearings, forest edges and orchards.

Diet:

Their diet consists of fruits, nectar and small arthropods.

Breeding:

The green honeycreeper breeds in April-July. The female builds a small cup nest in a tree, and incubates the clutch of 2 brown-blotched white eggs alone for 13 days. The chicks fledge 12 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

These birds have a very large breeding range and an estimated population of 500.000-5.000.000. With no evidence for any declines or substantial threats, the species is not considered threatened at present.