Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola

Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola. Photograph taken in the coastal region of Costa Rica, February 2016. Photograph and identification courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a member of the Thraupidae Family of Tanagers and Allies. They are small in stature. In Mexico, they are found in the coastal regions within the Atlantic Slope from central Veracruz to Oaxaca at elevations below 1,200 m (4,000 feet). They are found in shrubby and semi-open areas or on the margins of forests in both arid and humid areas. They primarily consume nectar limited amounts of seasonal berries and fruits and a few insects.

From a conservation perspective, the Bananaquit is categorized by the IUCN as Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations.