The Story
This Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) was at Entreaguas Reserva Natural in Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia when I photographed it. Its slender, curved bill is adapted for taking nectar, and it sometimes pierces flowers from the side to rob the nectar without pollinating them. It is about 10 to 13 centimeters long. This small, active nectar feeder lives in the warmer parts of the Americas and is generally common. It uses a wide range of open and semi-open habitats, including gardens and parks. The reserve lies in the Coello-Cocora area west of Ibagué, on the way toward Cajamarca, and its trails pass a series of waterfalls.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, −1 EV. IUCN lists the Bananaquit as Least Concern, with a decreasing population.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) belongs to the family Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2021), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List
