Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Red-legged honeycreeper
Latin Name: Cyanerpes cyaneus

Class: Birds
Order:    Passeriformes

Description
The red-legged honeycreeper is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning that males and females differ in appearance. During breeding season, the males have blue plumage with a black tail, back and wings as well as the red legs the species is named for. Non-breeding males are green with black patches on the wings while females have green bodies with lighter undersides.

Range
This striking songbird can be found from Mexico to Argentina.

Status
Common

Habitat
The red-legged honeycreeper favors tropical rainforest habitats.

Niche
The red-legged honeycreeper feeds on insects, berries and nectar.

Life History
The species lives in small groups in the wild. Females build cup-shaped nests, in which they incubate their clutch of two eggs for 12–13 days.

2