Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola
The Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a common tanager found in 47 countries, weighing about 10 g. The bananaquit is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.
About the Bananaquit
The bananaquit is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. Before the development of molecular genetics in the 21st century, its relationship to other species was uncertain, and it was placed with the buntings and New World sparrows in the family Emberizidae, with New World warblers in the family Parulidae, or its own monotypic family, Coerebidae. This small, active nectarivore is found in warmer parts of the Americas and is generally common.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bananaquit is a small bird, although size varies somewhat across the subspecies. Length can range from 10 to 13 cm (3.9 to 5.1 in). Weight ranges from 5.5 to 19 g (0.19 to 0.67 oz). Most subspecies of the bananaquit have dark grey (almost black) upperparts, black crowns and sides of the head, a prominent white eyestripe, grey throat, white vent, and yellow chest, belly, and rump. Coloration is heavily influenced by melanocortin 1 receptor variation. The sexes are alike, but juveniles are duller and often have partially yellow eyebrows and throat.
What the Bananaquit sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
When to see it
The Bananaquit can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Bananaquit on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bananaquit?
- The bananaquit is a small bird, although size varies somewhat across the subspecies. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bananaquit?
- The Bananaquit is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see a Bananaquit?
- The Bananaquit occurs in 47 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
- What does a Bananaquit sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Bananaquit on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Bananaquit?
- The Bananaquit is most easily confused with the Blue-grey Tanager, the Palm Tanager and the Saffron Finch.
- Is the Bananaquit endangered?
- The Bananaquit is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bananaquit for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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