Venezuelan Flowerpiercer

The funeral hooked beak ( Diglossa venezuelensis ) is a species of bird in the family of tanagers ( Thraupidae ). The range of this endemic species is restricted to the South American country of Venezuela. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered ( Endangered ).

Features

The funeral hooked beak reaches a body length of about 12.7 to 13.5 centimeters. The plumage of the male is almost completely black and has white belly tufts. On the wings, it also has a white line. The female has a yellowish -olive -colored head. The rest of the top is olive brown. The throat and chest are matt dark -olive yellow and go in the back of the bottom over to olive brown. The white tufts belly and wing stripe is similar to the male. The upturned black beak has a hook- shaped tip at both.

Distribution and habitat

You can find the mourning hooked beak in moist forest edges, relatively new to advanced secondary vegetation and forest near thickets at altitudes 1525-2450 meters. It has been observed in the Cordillera de Caripe and the Paria Peninsula. It is believed that the bird is found only in areas where domieren Clusia and other herbs.

Behavior

The bird normally acts nervous and hyperactive. He takes his nectar in practically all Stratifikationsschichten. Mostly, however, he is in the middle shrub layers in search of food. Often you can see him near the ground in the thicket of heliconias. He is a loner and in pairs on the go. Normally you do not see him together with mixed flocks of birds.