Purple Honeycreeper

Purpurnaschvogel ( Cyanerpes caeruleus ), male

The Purpurnaschvogel ( Cyanerpes caeruleus ) is a bird of the family of tanagers ( Thraupidae ). It is found in tropical America ( Neotropics ) from Colombia and Venezuela south to Brazil, and on Trinidad. There are some questions ( maybe exposed ) specimens have been reported from Tobago.

The natural habitat of the Purpurnaschvogels is the canopy of the forest, but it is also found in cocoa and citrus plantations. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest in a tree and there incubated a clutch of two white, brown speckled eggs.

The Purpurnaschvogel is 11.5 cm long, weighs 12 grams and has a long, black, downward curved beak. The male is purple with black wings, tail and belly and bright yellow legs. Females and young birds have a green top and a green dashed, beige - yellow underside. Her throat is cinnamon, and they have a blue beard Streif.

With the Trinidadians subspecies C. c. longirostris is the beak longer than the continental forms. The reputation of the Purpurnaschvogels is a high SRII.

The Purpurnaschvogel often forming small groups. It feeds on nectar, berries and insects, mainly in the treetops. He responds willingly to the call of Brasil - Sperlingskauzes ( Glaucidium brasilianum ) ( Portuguese: Caburé ).