19-3-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - PURPLE HONEYCREEPER (MALE) (Cyanerpes caeruleus)

The Purple Honeycreeper, Cyanerpes caeruleus, is a diminutive and vibrant member of the tanager family Thraupidae. This Neotropical avian jewel is adorned with a striking plumage; the male boasts a deep purple hue with contrasting black wings, tail, and underbelly, and sports vivid yellow legs. The female and immature birds present a more subdued palette, with green upperparts and yellowish-buff underparts streaked with green. A cinnamon throat and a distinctive blue moustachial stripe complete their attire. Both sexes have a long, black, decurved bill, with the Trinidadian subspecies C. c. longirostris exhibiting a notably longer bill than its mainland counterparts.

When identifying the Purple Honeycreeper, look for the male's unmistakable purple and black coloration and the female's green and buff streaked appearance. The long, curved bill is a key feature for nectar feeding, and the bright yellow legs of the male are quite distinctive. Juveniles resemble females but may lack the blue moustachial stripe.

This species is primarily a denizen of the forest canopy, but it also adapts to human-altered landscapes such as cocoa and citrus plantations. It thrives in a variety of forest types, including low-growing premontane rainforests rich in epiphytes and mosses, as well as elfin forests and páramo at higher elevations.

The Purple Honeycreeper is found across northern South America, from Colombia and Venezuela through the Amazon Basin and the Guianas. Its range extends west of the Andes to parts of southern Panama and reaches the western fringes of the Pantanal. It is generally seen at elevations up to 1,000 meters above sea level but has been recorded as high as 2,300 meters.