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Bananaquit
In Campo Limpo Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
Bahamas subspecies, Florida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Coereba
Vieillot, 1809
Species:
C. flaveola
Binomial name
Coereba flaveola
Synonyms
  • Certhia flaveola Linnaeus, 1758
  • Certhiola martinicensis
  • Certhiola dominicana Taylor, 1864

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 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 either 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.

Its name is derived from its yellow color and the English word quit, which refers to small passerines of tropical America; cf. grassquit, orangequit.[2]

Taxonomy

[edit]

The bananaquit was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae as Certhia flaveola.[3] Linnaeus based his description on the "black and yellow bird" described by John Ray and Hans Sloane,[4][5] and the "Black and Yellow Creeper" described and illustrated by George Edwards in 1751.[6] The bananaquit was reclassified as the only member of the genus Coereba by Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1809.[7] The genus name is of uncertain origin but may be from a Tupi name Güirá for a small black and yellow bird. The specific epithet flaveolus is a diminutive of the Latin flavus meaning "golden" or "yellow".[8]

Before the development of techniques to sequence DNA, the relationship of the bananaquit to other species was uncertain. It was variously placed with the New World warblers in the family Parulidae,[9] with the buntings and New World sparrows in the family Emberizidae,[10] or in its own monotypic family Coerebidae.[11] Based on the results of molecular phylogenetic studies, the bananaquit is now placed in the tanager family Thraupidae and belongs with Darwin's finches to the subfamily Coerebinae.[12][13][14]

It is still unclear if any of the island subspecies should be elevated to species, but phylogenetic studies have revealed three clades: the nominate group from Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Cayman Islands, the bahamensis group from the Bahamas and Quintana Roo, and the bartholemica group from South and Central America, Mexico (except Quintana Roo), the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico.[15][16] Several taxa were not sampled,[15][16] but most of these are easily placed in the above groups based on zoogeography alone. Exceptions are oblita (San Andrés Island) and tricolor (Providencia Island), and their placement is therefore uncertain. In February 2010, the International Ornithological Congress listed bahamensis and bartholemica as proposed splits from C. flaveola.[17]

Subspecies

[edit]

There are 41 currently recognized subspecies:[14]

  • C. f. bahamensis (Reichenbach, 1853): Bahamas
  • C. f. caboti (Baird, 1873): east Yucatan Peninsula and nearby islands
  • C. f. flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758): nominate, Jamaica
  • C. f. sharpei (Cory, 1886): Cayman Is.
  • C. f. bananivora (Gmelin, 1789): Hispaniola and nearby islands
  • C. f. nectarea Wetmore, 1929: Tortue I.
  • C. f. portoricensis (Bryant, 1866): Puerto Rico
  • C. f. sanctithomae (Sundevall, 1869): north Virgin Is.
  • C. f. newtoni (Baird, 1873): Saint Croix (south Virgin Is.)
  • C. f. bartholemica (Sparrman, 1788): north and central Lesser Antilles
  • C. f. martinicana (Reichenbach, 1853): Martinique and Saint Lucia (south central Lesser Antilles)
  • C. f. barbadensis (Baird, 1873): Barbados
  • C. f. atrata (Lawrence, 1878): St. Vincent (south Lesser Antilles)
  • C. f. aterrima (Lesson, 1830): Grenada and the Grenadines (south Lesser Antilles)
  • C. f. uropygialis von Berlepsch, 1892: Aruba and Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles)
  • C. f. tricolor (Ridgway, 1884): Providencia I. (off east Nicaragua)
  • C. f. oblita Griscom, 1923: San Andrés I. (off east Nicaragua)
  • C. f. mexicana (Sclater, 1857): southeastern Mexico to western Panama
  • C. f. cerinoclunis Bangs, 1901: Pearl Is. (south of Panama)
  • C. f. columbiana (Cabanis, 1866): eastern Panama to southwestern Colombia and southern Venezuela
  • C. f. bonairensis Voous, 1955: Bonaire I. (Netherlands Antilles)
  • C. f. melanornis Phelps & Phelps, 1954: Cayo Sal I. (off Venezuela)
  • C. f. lowii Cory, 1909: Los Roques Is. (off Venezuela)
  • C. f. ferryi Cory, 1909: La Tortuga I. (off Venezuela)
  • C. f. frailensis Phelps & Phelps, 1946: Los Frailes and Los Hermanos Is. (off Venezuela)
  • C. f. laurae Lowe, 1908: Los Testigos (off Venezuela)
  • C. f. luteola (Cabanis, 1850): coastal northern Colombia and Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago
  • C. f. obscura Cory, 1913: northeastern Colombia and western Venezuela
  • C. f. minima (Bonaparte, 1854): eastern Colombia and southern Venezuela to French Guiana and north central Brazil
  • C. f. montana Lowe, 1912: Andes of northwestern Venezuela
  • C. f. caucae Chapman, 1914: western Colombia
  • C. f. gorgonae Thayer & Bangs, 1905: Gorgona I. (off western Colombia)
  • C. f. intermedia (Salvadori & Festa, 1899): southwestern Colombia, western Ecuador and northern Peru east to southern Venezuela and western Brazil
  • C. f. bolivari Zimmer & Phelps, 1946: eastern Venezuela
  • C. f. guianensis (Cabanis, 1850): southeastern Venezuela to Guyana
  • C. f. roraimae Chapman, 1929: tepui regions of southeastern Venezuela, southwestern Guyana and northern Brazil
  • C. f. pacifica Lowe, 1912: eastern Peru
  • C. f. magnirostris (Taczanowski, 1880): northern Peru
  • C. f. dispar Zimmer, 1942: north central Peru to western Bolivia
  • C. f. chloropyga (Cabanis, 1850): east central Peru to central Bolivia and east to eastern Brazil, northern Uruguay, northeastern Argentina and Paraguay
  • C. f. alleni Lowe, 1912: eastern Bolivia to central Brazil
[edit]

Description

[edit]
Juvenile bananaquits are duller than adults and may have yellow eyebrows and throat

The bananaquit is a small bird, although there is some degree of size variation across the various subspecies. Length can range from 10 to 13 cm (3.9 to 5.1 in).[18][19] Weight ranges from 5.5 to 19 g (0.19 to 0.67 oz).[20][21]

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.[22]

The sexes are alike, but juveniles are duller and often have partially yellow eyebrows and throat.

In the subspecies bahamensis and caboti from the Bahamas and Cozumel, respectively, the throat and upper chest are white or very pale grey,[23][24] while ferryi from La Tortuga Island has a white forehead.[25] The subspecies laurae, lowii, and melanornis from small islands off the coast of northern Venezuela are overall blackish,[25] while the subspecies aterrima and atrata from Grenada and Saint Vincent have two plumage morphs, one "normal" and another blackish.[23] The pink gape is usually very prominent in the subspecies from islands in the Caribbean Sea.

The tongue is paddle-shaped, with an extremely long paddle section.[26]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]
Bananaquit in its nest. Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

It is resident in tropical South America north to southern Mexico and the Caribbean. It is found throughout the West Indies, except for Cuba.[23] Birds from the Bahamas are rare visitors to Florida.[27]

It occurs in a wide range of open to semi-open habitats, including gardens and parks, but it is rare or absent in deserts, dense forests (e.g. large parts of the Amazon rainforest), and at altitudes above 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[25]

Bananaquit nests are known to be used by frog species, such as the Common coquí.[28]

Behaviour and ecology

[edit]
Eggs of Coereba flaveola MHNT
A bananaquit feeding on an orange in the Morne Diablotins National Park in Dominica

The bananaquit has a slender, curved bill, adapted to taking nectar from flowers, including mistletoes.[29] Nectivory is probably an independent innovation in Coereba.[26] Since then C. flaveola's tongue shape has shown convergent evolution with other birds feeding on the same flowers, and its source flowers have shown convergence to accommodate its tongue.[26] It sometimes pierces flowers from the side, taking the nectar without pollinating the plant - known as nectar robbing.[27][30] It also feeds on fruits - including mistletoe fruits, other berries, and ripe bananas (hence the common name and bananivora for the Hispaniolan subspecies).[29][31][32][33] It has been observed taking fruits' sweet juices by puncturing fruit with its beak and it will also eat small insects (such as ants and flies), their larvae, and other small arthropods (such as spiders) on occasion.[34] While feeding, the bananaquit must always perch, as it cannot hover like a hummingbird.[31]

The bananaquit is known for its ability to adjust remarkably to human environments. It often visits gardens and may become very tame. Its nickname, the sugar bird, comes from its affinity for bowls or bird feeders stocked with granular sugar, a common method of attracting these birds.[31] The bananaquit builds a spherical lined nest with a side entrance hole, laying up to three eggs, which are incubated solely by the female.[35] It may also build its nest in human-made objects, such as lampshades and garden trellises. The birds breed all year regardless of season and build new nests throughout the year.[31]

References

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Literature cited

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bananaquit

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a small, active bird belonging to the tanager family , distinguished by its nectarivorous diet and striking featuring a rump, chest, and undertail coverts contrasting with darker upperparts. This measures approximately 10.5–11.5 cm in length, with a slender, downcurved bill adapted for probing flowers, a short square-tipped tail, and broad rounded wings that facilitate agile movements through foliage. Native to the warmer regions of the , it occupies diverse open and semi-open habitats such as gardens, parks, forest edges, and shrubby areas, generally avoiding dense forests and deserts, from low elevations up to about 1,200 m. Widespread across its range, the bananaquit breeds from southern southward through to northern on the mainland, and it is particularly abundant on islands from to the Venezuelan coast, including most islands except . Vagrants occasionally appear in southern , especially during winter. The exhibits significant geographic variation, with numerous described showing differences in intensity, such as duller tones in females and juveniles. Its has been debated, historically placed in its own Coerebidae but now firmly within Thraupidae based on molecular . Behaviorally, bananaquits are bold and non-territorial, often solitarily or in pairs while creeping along branches in flowering trees and shrubs; they often probe or pierce the base of flowers to access , sometimes without effecting but inadvertently aiding it in other cases. Their diet primarily consists of from a variety of , supplemented by small , spiders, and fruits such as bananas. Vocalizations include high-pitched, buzzy trills and a sharp "quit" call, used in songs and contact. They construct globular nests with side entrances, often in shrubs or vines, and are prolific breeders in suitable habitats. Currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large population and adaptability to human-modified landscapes, the bananaquit faces no major threats but may be impacted locally by habitat loss in some areas. This resilient species symbolizes the of Neotropical ecosystems, contributing to networks while thriving in both natural and urban settings.

Taxonomy

Etymology

The "bananaquit" derives from the bird's association with banana plants, where it frequently feeds on from the flowers by piercing their bases with its curved bill, combined with "quit," an English term historically applied to small tropical American passerines like the grassquit and orangequit. This name emerged in English ornithological literature during the , reflecting early observations of the bird's foraging behaviors in the . The scientific name Coereba flaveola was established through contributions from early naturalists. first described the species in 1758 as Certhia flaveola in his , placing it among the creepers due to its slender bill, though this classification was later revised based on its distinct nectar-feeding adaptations. In 1809, Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot reclassified it as the sole member of the genus Coereba, a name derived from the Tupi indigenous term "guiracoereba," documented by Georg Marcgrave in 1648 to describe a small nectar-eating with blue, black, and yellow plumage. The specific epithet flaveola comes from Latin flavus meaning "yellow" with the diminutive suffix -olus, referring to the bird's bright yellowish underparts. Subsequent taxonomic adjustments to the name and genus have been influenced by detailed studies of the bananaquit's specialized behaviors, such as its opportunistic nectarivory and unique bill morphology, which distinguish it from related .

Classification

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is classified within the order Passeriformes, the largest order of birds encompassing perching songbirds, and belongs to the superfamily Passeroidea, a diverse group of primarily herbivorous passerines distributed across the Palearctic and . Within this framework, it is placed in the family Thraupidae, the , which represents the second-largest family of birds with approximately 372 , predominantly in the Neotropics. This assignment stems from comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses initiated in the early , utilizing multiple genetic markers such as mitochondrial cytochrome and ND2, as well as nuclear genes like and ACO1-I9, which resolved the Thraupidae as a monophyletic group including the bananaquit. Prior to these molecular studies, the bananaquit was traditionally recognized in its own monogeneric family, Coerebidae, due to its distinctive nectar-feeding adaptations and uncertain affinities, a dating back to 19th-century morphology-based . However, multilocus phylogenies demonstrated that Coerebidae is nested within Thraupidae, specifically in the Coerebinae, supported by high posterior probabilities (1.0) and bootstrap values (100%) in concatenated gene trees. This also encompasses (Geospiza spp. and relatives) and other Caribbean-endemic , highlighting a shared evolutionary among these New World nine-primaried oscines—a characterized by reduced ninth primary feathers and diverse feeding strategies. Phylogenetic reconstructions, particularly those employing (mtDNA) restriction-site variation and sequence data from genes like cytochrome b, have elucidated the bananaquit's evolutionary divergence. Analyses indicate that major lineages within the , such as the endemic Jamaican , separated around 5.5 million years ago during the , based on a calibrated at 2% sequence divergence per million years. These mtDNA studies further reveal a origin for the genus Coereba, with subsequent dispersals to continental populations, underscoring the role of island biogeography in its .

Subspecies

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is recognized as comprising 41 , primarily distinguished by geographic isolation and associated morphological traits. These reflect extensive intraspecific variation across their range in the , , and , with many arising through driven by island-mainland barriers and inter-island separations. The nominate subspecies, C. f. flaveola, occurs on and exemplifies typical island forms with dark gray upperparts, a prominent white , yellow underparts, and a gray , though plumage intensity can vary subtly. In contrast, mainland subspecies such as C. f. chloropyga, found from central to northeastern , often display brighter yellow ventral coloration and more olive-tinged dorsal feathers compared to the duller tones in many Caribbean island populations. A notable example of a darker variant is C. f. aterrima on and the , where sooty or melanistic morphs predominate, featuring reduced yellow pigmentation and overall blackish that blends with shaded island habitats. Other variations include coloration ranging from or gray in continental forms to black in certain West Indian subspecies, as well as the presence or absence of a white spot. Size differences among are evident, particularly in bill length, which adapts to local floral resources; for instance, C. f. magnirostris in Peru's Marañón Valley has a notably longer bill for accessing deeper sources. Overall body size remains small, with total lengths of 10–11 cm and weights from 6.4–14.2 g, but subtle gradients in wing and tarsus proportions occur between mainland and insular groups, contributing to the species' adaptability. Distribution patterns underscore the role of isolation in divergence: mainland forms like C. f. columbiana span from to southern in a relatively continuous range, while island taxa such as C. f. bahamensis in or C. f. portoricensis in represent discrete, allopatric populations shaped by oceanic barriers. Genetic analyses confirm that while plumage-based are numerous, mitochondrial clades often group by major regions—such as the versus the —indicating historical events from islands to mainland and vice versa.

Description

Physical characteristics

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a small bird, typically measuring 10–11 cm in length and weighing 6.4–14.2 g. Its slender build supports agile flight and hovering behavior essential for its nectar-feeding lifestyle. The adult plumage is distinctive, featuring a , dark gray to black upperparts, and bright yellow underparts and rump, accented by a prominent white supraloral stripe that extends from the base of the bill to behind the eye, a white patch at the base of the , a short square-tipped tail, and broad rounded wings. A thin, sharply decurved bill, often with a pinkish gape at the base, is specialized for probing deep into flowers to extract . This bill morphology, combined with the bird's ability to hover like a , facilitates efficient in tubular corollas. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, though males tend to have brighter yellow underparts and rump compared to females, which may appear slightly duller. Juveniles are overall duller than adults, with paler, dingier , reduced contrast in the (often yellowish). can vary slightly among , including sooty-black morphs in certain populations.

Vocalizations

The bananaquit's primary call consists of high-pitched, sharp "tsit," "tsip," or "seet" notes, often delivered singly or in rapid series such as "chit-chit-chit" to maintain contact between mates or flock members, or as signals. These calls are weak and inconspicuous while foraging but become more frequent in social contexts. The species' song is highly variable, featuring buzzy trills, whistles, twittering, and warbling phrases that are typically short, lasting 2–4 seconds, and sung persistently by males, especially during the breeding season. Songs often comprise 1–18 notes (averaging about 5–6), with nonrandom sequences of shared note types that convey immediate variety for territorial defense. Songs are delivered in high-pitched bursts that support functions like territory defense and pair communication. Regional dialects exist among , as song patterns and types vary geographically and individually, though core note types are widely shared across populations; for instance, in , males exhibit limited sharing of full song types (about 8%) but high overlap in individual notes. Juveniles produce longer songs with greater variability than adults.

Distribution and habitat

Geographic range

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is native to a vast area of the Neotropics, extending from southern through and into northern , as well as across much of the region. On the mainland, its range begins in southeastern (including states such as , , and ) and continues southward through , , , , , and ; in , it spans from northern and eastward through and , and southward to , , , northeastern , and northern . The species is widespread in tropical lowlands across its distribution, with particularly high abundances in and northern . In the , it occupies the (such as , , and , but excluding ), the from the to , , , and ; various exhibit distinct distributions within these island groups and mainland zones. The current range likely reflects historical expansions during the Pleistocene, including post-glacial periods when lowered sea levels enabled colonization across island chains like the Lesser Antilles. Vagrant birds from Bahamian populations have been recorded in the southern United States, especially Florida.

Habitat preferences

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) primarily inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, gardens, mangroves, and shrubby areas across its range, favoring environments with abundant flowering vegetation. It is typically found at elevations from sea level up to 1,500 meters, though it occasionally occurs higher in the Andes up to 2,600 meters; it is most abundant in lowlands below 230 meters. The species avoids dense interior forests and arid deserts, preferring semi-open to open habitats that provide easy access to resources. Within these habitats, bananaquits utilize microhabitats centered on flowering shrubs and trees, where they or hang upside down to probe blossoms for . They show a strong preference for disturbed or transitional zones, such as forest clearings and edges, over uniform dense canopy areas. The bananaquit demonstrates notable adaptability to human-modified landscapes, thriving in urban gardens, plantations, and parks due to the prevalence of ornamental flowering and artificial feeders. This tolerance allows higher population densities in such areas compared to natural wildlands, as the species readily exploits introduced nectar sources like and sugar water.

Behavior and ecology

Diet and foraging

The bananaquit's diet is dominated by , which accounts for approximately 76% of observed feeding records, with and other arthropods comprising about 8%, 7%, and protein-rich corpuscles from plants such as making up the remaining 9%. is sourced from over 50 species of flowers, including tubular blooms of trees like Erythrina micropteryx and Symphonia globulifera, as well as shrubs such as and inflorescences of banana plants. include small flies, beetles, caterpillars, , bees, and spiders, while fruits consumed encompass pulp from species like , , and ripe bananas. Foraging occurs primarily by perching, as the bananaquit lacks the ability to hover like a , instead clinging to branches or hanging upside down to access resources. It probes flowers with its slender, curved bill to extract , often piercing the base of longer-tubed corollas such as those in species to bypass the floral structure. Arthropods are opportunistically gleaned from foliage, particularly the undersides of leaves and twigs, through quick inspections while moving briskly in pairs or small groups. Fruits are either pierced for juice or partially eaten, with skins discarded. The diet remains relatively consistent year-round, with nectar intake stable at around 75%, though proportions of insects and fruit exhibit seasonal variation, increasing modestly during periods of higher arthropod availability or fruit ripening. This opportunistic approach allows the bananaquit to exploit diverse floral and faunal resources across its range, adapting to local abundances without specialized dependence on any single food type beyond nectar.

Reproduction

The bananaquit exhibits opportunistic breeding patterns typical of tropical passerines, with reproduction occurring year-round in many regions but peaking toward the end of the and into the early , often from March to August, coinciding with increased floral resources. In areas like and , breeding initiation aligns closely with the onset of rains, allowing pairs to exploit seasonal food abundance, though some populations breed asynchronously without strict ties to weather patterns. Mating systems vary but often involve or , with males courting multiple females through singing, bowing displays, and aerial chases near roost sites; mate switching is common, and while pairs form for nesting, strict is not the norm. Nests are constructed by both sexes over 5–7 days and consist of bulky, spherical or globe-shaped structures with a domed , thick walls, and a side entrance hole, woven from grasses, plant fibers, twigs, , , and narrow strips of bark, then lined with softer materials such as feathers, spider webs, , or hair. These nests, which measure about 15–20 cm in diameter externally, are typically placed in dense shrubs, vines, or tree forks 1.5–9 m above the ground, though heights can reach up to 15 m in taller vegetation; unused or post-breeding nests often serve as communal dormitories for roosting. Clutches usually comprise 2–4 eggs, which are dull or cream-colored with variable , , or spots and blotches concentrated at the larger end. The female alone incubates the eggs for 12–14 days, during which the male provides protection by singing nearby and chasing intruders but does not share incubation duties. Upon , altricial nestlings are naked, pink-skinned, and blind, with eyes opening around day 4–5; both parents then engage in biparental care, regurgitating , , and pulp to feed the young while the female broods them initially and removes fecal sacs to maintain nest . Nestlings after 15–19 days, remaining dependent on parental provisioning for several additional weeks as they develop flight skills and foraging independence, with 1–2 broods produced per season in successful pairs.

Predators and threats

The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) faces predation primarily at the nest stage, where eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to a variety of Neotropical predators. Common nest predators include colubrid snakes, which are principal threats to open and cavity nests alike, as well as , rats, and grackles that can cause complete brood loss in an all-or-none fashion. Mammals such as , including species like the four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum), occasionally depredate nests, particularly in forested habitats. Predation on adults is rare, owing to the bird's small size, agility, and rapid flight, though small raptors such as the (Buteo platypterus) pose occasional risks. Ecological threats to the bananaquit include for nectar resources, particularly with , as bananaquits often engage in by piercing flower corollas, thereby reducing available nectar for legitimate pollinators and potentially limiting foraging efficiency. Nest parasitism by ectoparasites, such as mites in the genus Ornithonyssus, affects nestlings and can impact growth and survival, though prevalence varies by and location. appears uncommon, with limited records of intrusions in bananaquit nests across their range. Bananaquits employ behavioral defenses against predators, including alarm calls—short, high-pitched notes repeated at intervals to alert nearby individuals—and , where groups of birds, including conspecifics and heterospecifics, harass intruders such as snakes or raptors to deter attacks. These mechanisms are particularly effective around nests, where the domed structure provides some concealment, enhancing the birds' ability to evade detection.

Conservation

Status

The Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is classified as Least Concern on the , a status it has held since 1988 when it was listed as Lower Risk/Least Concern. This designation reflects its extensive geographic range exceeding 22 million km² and high adaptability to a variety of habitats, including human-modified landscapes. The meets the IUCN criteria for Least Concern due to its large global population, estimated at 5–50 million mature individuals, which remains stable or increasing in many modified environments despite an overall decreasing trend that does not approach Vulnerable thresholds (less than 30% decline over ten years or three generations). No of the Bananaquit are considered endangered globally, though island populations are monitored for potential impacts from , which pose risks to avian communities in the . The Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) has an estimated global population of 5–50 million mature individuals, reflecting its extremely large range across the tropical and . This estimate, derived from Partners in Flight assessments, underscores the species' widespread abundance despite ongoing environmental pressures. Highest densities occur in modified habitats such as urban gardens and forest edges, with records of up to 458 individuals per km² in urban ecosystems of , equivalent to approximately 229 pairs per km² assuming paired breeding. In contrast, densities are lower in dense Amazonian forests, where the species is more common at edges than in interior habitats. Overall population trends are stable to slightly decreasing, classified as a small decline not approaching vulnerable thresholds due to the species' adaptability and vast distribution. In urbanizing areas, such as gardens and suburban zones, abundance has increased in response to human-modified landscapes providing sources like flowering plants and feeders, allowing the Bananaquit to thrive where native is fragmented. Conversely, declines are noted in heavily deforested regions, driven by habitat loss that reduces opportunities in natural settings. Monitoring efforts, including eBird data and Christmas Bird Counts, reveal the species' resilience to and disturbances like hurricanes. For instance, post-hurricane surveys in the show rapid recovery in relative abundance, with increases observed in following , attributed to the bird's opportunistic foraging in disturbed areas. Similarly, populations have demonstrated recovery after severe storms, rebounding to pre-disturbance levels within years through shifts to edge and habitats. These datasets highlight the Bananaquit's ability to persist amid fragmentation, though long-term monitoring is needed to track subtle declines in primary forest remnants.

References

  1. https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=B78F2D6F0E30160C
  2. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/bananaquit
  3. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coereba_flaveola/
  4. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bananaquit/lifehistory
  5. https://wordzo.com/words/banana-quit.html
  6. https://earthlife.net/bananaquits/
  7. https://www.peruaves.org/thraupidae/bananaquit-coereba-flaveola/
  8. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/banana/cur/introduction
  9. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/cardin1/cur/introduction
  10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.02.006
  11. https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-17-215.1
  12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-8-240
  13. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.banana.01
  14. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bananaquit/overview
  15. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bananaquit/sounds
  16. https://data.fs.usda.gov/research/pubs/iitf/ja_iitf_1992_wunderle_004.pdf
  17. https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bananaquit-coereba-flaveola
  18. https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Coereba_flaveola%20-%20Bananaquit%20or%20Sugar%20Bird.pdf
  19. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2533019/
  20. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=19204&context=auk
  21. https://www.birdscaribbean.org/category/news/education/page/3/
  22. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2387741
  23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316692254_Predators_of_bird_nests_in_the_Neotropics_a_review
  24. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/nest-predation
  25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2407842
  26. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1980.tb04033.x
  27. https://irl.umsl.edu/context/dissertation/article/1854/viewcontent/auto_convert.pdf
  28. https://ornneo.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ornneo/article/download/977/711
  29. https://www.birdscaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/why_caribbean_birds_matter_FINAL-small.pdf
  30. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1940082918754777
  31. https://birdsofcolombia.com/pages/bananaquit
  32. https://www.mexican-birds.org/bananaquit/
  33. https://ebird.org/species/banana
  34. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354643444_Resistance_and_resilience_of_Virgin_Islands_bird_populations_following_severe_hurricanes
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