Bird Name:

Green Honeycreeper

Latin Name:

Chlorophanes spiza

Status:

Least Concern

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Thraupidae

Genus: Chlorophanes

Species: C. spiza

General Information:

The Green Honeycreeper is a small tanager found from southern Mexico northern South America. This canopy dweller is found singly, in pairs, or in large mixed honeycreeper and tanager flocks. It is monotypic and the only species in its genus.

Physical Description:

The Green Honeycreeper is about 5.5 inches long and weighs approximately 17 g. This species is dimorphic. The males are mainly blue green with a black head and wing tips. The irises are reddish. The females have apple green plumage with darker wings. They have a straw colored belly and do not have black heads. The irises are reddish brown. Both the males and females have a distinctive curved yellowish bill with a black culmen, or upper ridge.

Diet:

This species’ diet relies heavily on fruit. This is unlike most other honeycreepers that rely heavily on nectar. This honeycreeper will supplement its diet with some nectar and insects.

Habitat:

The Green Honeycreeper ranges from southern Mexico to the Amazon Basin, with disjunct populations in southeastern Brazil and on the island of Trinidad. It prefers forest and secondary woodland. It resides in the canopy but will occasionally venture into clearings and the forest edge.

Reproduction:

The female Green Honeycreeper will build small cup shaped nests in trees. The female then lays 2 white eggs with brown blotches per clutch. Incubation is done by the female and lasts for a period of 13 days.