|
|
Green Honeycreeper, Chlorophanes spiza The Green honeycreeper, like its cousin the Purple Honeycreeper feeds on fruit and nectar. The male is bright green with a black face and yellow at the base of the bill. The female is an attractive lime green. In its natural forested habitat it prefers to feed high in the canopy however along forested roads and estates it can readily be seen feeding on the fruit and nectar of understory species. |
| |
|
|
|
|
The Blue and Yellow Macaw, Ara ararauna was once a resident of the Nariva Swamp but by 1970 it had been extirpated locally through habitat loss and collection of nestlings for the pet trade. In 2004 Blue and Yellow Macaws were re-introduced into Nariva swamp in efforts to restore this attractive bird to our swamp forests. The macaws are now regularly seen by residents in the communities bordering the swamp. |
| |
|
|
|
|
The Red-bellied Macaw, Ara manilata is a locally common resident of Trinidad. Flocks are regularly seen at Nariva Swamp and Aripo Savannah where large stands of Moriche Palms occur. The macaws depend heavily on Moriche Palms for their survival. They feed on the palm fruit and nest in the hollowed out stems of dead palms. They are smaller than their blue and yellow cousins and fortunately have not been as targeted by the pet trade. |
| |
|
|
|
|
The manakins are a family of birds that are restricted to South America. They are all small fruit eating birds which are best known for their elaborate courtship displays by the male bird. The White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus of Trinidad’s forests is no exception with as many as 70 birds conducting communal displays in an area referred to as a lek. Each male bird prepares his own court in which to display. To prepare the stage he selects an area within the lek between two small saplings (about 18 inches apart) and removes all fallen leaves and twigs to create a bare patch of soil. On this stage he spends up to 90% of the daylight hours perfecting his dance. As a female visits, the lek becomes a frenzy of activity with each male trying to outdo his rivals dancing back and forth across his stage accompanied by a series of whirrs and clicks caused by the bird’s voice and by its’ feathers. The female makes her selection, mates and then goes off to raise her brood on her own. |
| |
|
|
|
|
The Ruby-topaz hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus is one of our most attractive species. It is a breeding resident on both Trinidad and Tobago common in open areas and sub-urban gardens. They appear to migrate to the mainland from September to December, a period during which nectar is in short supply. During the nesting period, generally from January to May, male birds can be seen fanning their tails and displaying their bright plumage. The female has a more somber plumage of bronze and green. |
| |
|
|
|
|
