Genus Coereba

Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola Two bananaquits on a branch Photo: Leon-bojarczuk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bananaquits.jpg

The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a species of passerine bird of uncertain relation. It is tentatively placed in the tanager family,
but classified as incertae sedis by other authorities such as the American Ornithologists' Union. Its classification is debated,
and it is often placed in its own family: Coerebidae. It has recently been suggested the Bananaquit should be split into three species,
but this has yet to receive widespread recognition. This small, active nectarivore is found in warmer parts of the Americas, and is
generally common.

The Bananaquit is a small bird, although there is some degree of size variation across the various subspecies.
Length can range from 7.5 to 12.5 centimetres. Weight ranges from 5.5 to 19 grams.

Most subspecies of the Bananaquit have dark grey (almost black) upperparts, black crown and sides of the head, a prominent
white eyestripe, grey throat, white vent, and yellow chest, belly and rump.

The sexes are alike, but juveniles are duller and often have a partially yellow eyebrow and throat. In the subspecies bahamensis
and caboti from the Bahamas and Cozumel, respectively, the throat and upper chest are white or very pale grey, while ferryi
from La Tortuga Island has a white forehead.

Bananaquit photographed feeding on an orange in its natural habitat in Dominica Photo: Charlesjsharp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bananaquit_feeding_on_orange.jpg

There are at present 39 subspecies.
The subspecies laurae, lowii and melanornis from small islands off northern Venezuela are overall blackish, while the subspecies aterrima and atrata from Grenada and Saint Vincent have two plumage morphs, one "normal" and another blackish.The pink gape is usually very prominent in the subspecies from islands in the Caribbean Sea.

The Banaquit 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 also feeds on sweet juices by puncturing fruit with its beak, and will eat small
insects on occasion. While feeding, the Banaquit must always perch as it cannot hover like a hummingbird.

The Banaquit is known for its ability to adjust remarkably to human environments. It often visits gardens and may become very
tame. Its nickname, the sugar bird, comes from its affinity for bowls or bird feeders stocked with granular sugar, a common
method of attracting these birds. The Bananaquit builds a spherical lined nest with a side entrance hole, laying up to three eggs,
which are incubated solely by the female. It may also build its nest in man-made objects, such as lampshades and garden trellises.
The birds breed all year regardless of season and build new nests throughout the year.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananaquit

A Bananquit, Coereba flaveola, in its nest at night, in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica Photo: Steven G. Johnson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bananaquit_nest,_Costa_Rica.JPG

Brazilian Tanager, Ramphocelus bresilius Brazilian Tanager, Ramphocelus bresilius Photo: © www.arthurgrosset.com

The Brazilian Tanager, Ramphocelus bresilius, is endemic to the east coast of Brazil from Paraíba to Santa Catarina. In many ways it is similar to the Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo which is much more widespread but does not occur on the east coast.

The male is, however, much more brightly coloured than the Silver-beaked Tanager. Like all Ramphocelus tanagers it has a shiny white area at the base of the lower mandible. The male acquires this plumage in its second year and immature males look like a mixture of male and female plumage.
The female is much duller but only in comparison to her mate. They are very attractive in their own right.

They are normally found near water, either the ocean or a river