| Bananaquit | ||||||||||||||
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| Coereba flaveola |
The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a passerine bird, the only member of the family Coerebidae. 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 (length 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.