Birds Guide

Bananaquit Conservation status Least concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Coerebidae d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838 Genus: Coereba Vieillot, 1809 Species: C. flaveola
Binomial name
Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a passerine bird, the only member of the genus Coereba and is normally placed within the family Coerebidae, although there is uncertainty whether that placement is correct (hence the assignment Genus Coereba Incertae sedis). 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 attaining an average length of 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.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Coereba flaveola. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern