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Green honeycreeper Facts

Green honeycreeper Facts
Green honeycreeper is a bird of the tanager family. It can be found all the way from the southern parts of the Mexico to the southern parts of Brazil and on the Trinidad. Green honeycreeper lives on the edges of tropical rainforests. These beautiful birds are attractive to the tourists both because of their colorful plumage and because of their song. Main threat for the survival of green honeycreeper represents habitat loss (intense deforestation of rainforests). At the moment, number of green honeycreepers in the wild is stable. Green honeycreeper is listed as "least concern", which means that is not listed as endangered species.
Interesting Green honeycreeper Facts:
Green honeycreeper is a small bird. It reaches 5.5 inches in length and weight of 0.6 ounces. It has small wings and strong talons. Talons ensure firm bond between the bird and the branches of trees.
Green honeycreeper is characterized by sexual dimorphism. In other words: males and females do not look alike and that they can be easily distinguished.
Males have black heads, bright yellow beak and bluish-green glossy body. Legs are usually grey. Iris of the eyes is red.
Females do not have black heads. Upper part of their body is olive green in color. Lower parts of the body are yellowish in color. Iris of the eyes is reddish-brown and darker than in males.
Name of the species is derived based on the color of the plumage that is characteristic for the female birds.
Intensive coloration of the plumage provides camouflage in the dense vegetation, and protects them against predators.
Main predators of green honeycreepers are snakes.
Green honeycreepers have long, sharp and decurved beak designed for eating nectar, fruits, seeds and insects.
Although their name "honeycreeper" suggests that nectar is their favorite food, fruit represents more than 60% of the green honeycreeper's diet. Nectar represents only 20% of their diet. Smallest part of honeycreeper's menu (15% of total caloric intake) is represented with insects.
Green honeycreeper is a songbird. It vocalizes by producing sharp chips.
Green honeycreeper usually lives in pair. They can also live as a part of larger groups (flocks) of birds of other species such as other honeycreepers, warblers and tanagers. Life in larger groups provides safety against predators because they can be more easily spotted.
Mating season of green honeycreeper lasts from April to July.
Female green honeycreeper is responsible for building of the nest that is located on the trees or in the bushes. Nests are usually cup-shaped.
Female lays two white eggs with brown blotches. Incubated eggs will hatch after period of two weeks. Chicks have the same color of the plumage like females.
Average lifespan of a green honeycreeper in captivity is around ten years.


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