| The Red-legged Honeycreeper is a small, rare | | | | build their nest on a tree branch in the form |
| bird from the tanager family, typically found | | | | of a small cup, where the clutch of no more |
| in various regions of Central and South | | | | than 2 eggs will need to be kept warm for |
| America. These include southern Mexico, Peru, | | | | around 12 days. After the eggs hatch, the |
| Bolivia, Ecuador and most parts of Brazil, | | | | chicks will need another 14 days before they |
| and also in Cuba, and on the island of | | | | are ready to learn to fly. |
| Trinidad and Tobago. | | | | |
| | | | Red-legged Honeycreepers have a slightly |
| There is a slight difference when it comes to | | | | curved, soft bill, which requires them to |
| the Trinidad and Tobago Honeycreepers | | | | each a special diet when kept in captivity. |
| however, as they are slightly larger than the | | | | In the wild, the birds tend to eat insects, |
| birds on the mainland. A typical Red-legged | | | | berries and nectar, sipping it through their |
| Honeycreeper is rather small in size, usually | | | | long beaks easily. This also explains their |
| about 12 centimeters long and weighing about | | | | tendency to live in small groups along the |
| 14 grams. | | | | edges of open forests and woodland areas, |
| | | | while also enjoying congregating at citrus |
| The Honeycreeper coloring differs between | | | | and cocoa plantations! |
| males and females, with the females having a | | | | |
| slightly paler, greenish coloring with a | | | | When building their nests, the Honeycreepers |
| streaked light green belly and throat. The | | | | seem to stick to the mid-level of the forest |
| legs are reddish-brown, while fledglings have | | | | canopy, which is where many insects live. |
| brown legs and even lighter shading. It is | | | | Although they are rarely seen in the wild, |
| the male Red-legged Honeycreepers that really | | | | Red-legged Honeycreepers are listed as a |
| stand out in the wild, with their violet-blue | | | | species of least concern on the endangered |
| bodies and black wings, black backside and | | | | species list. |
| tail, and extremely bright red legs. The | | | | |
| crown of this species head is an almost neon | | | | If kept in captivity for any length of time, |
| turquoise, with a lemon yellow coloring under | | | | the Honeycreeper will need to be fed through |
| the wings. | | | | a nectar feeder and offered soaked fruits - |
| | | | though they'll happily accept pieces of |
| After the breeding season, a male | | | | sponge cake soaked in nectar! They can be |
| Honeycreeper will moult into a greenish | | | | bred in captivity, though any chicks that are |
| coloring with black wings, and this will last | | | | hatched will need direct attention and live |
| for several months until his regular colors | | | | food for the first 14 days. |
| return. In terms of the females, they will | | | | |