Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5 cm (4.5 in). The male Golden-collared Honeycreeper has black head and mantle. It has a distinctive golden collar. The folded wings are blue.  The underparts and rump are yellowish with shades of green. The female is mostly olive above with bluish folded wings and a coppery collar. The underparts are yellowish. It forages the canopy of humid montane forest often in the company of mixed species flocks. The female superficially resembles a female Green Honeycreeper but is distinguished by bluish wings, smaller size, and by ranging at higher elevations.

Status: The Golden-collared Honeycreeper is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1100-2000 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Mielero de Collar Dorado.

Sub-species: Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus pulcherrimus), (P. L. Sclater), 1853.

Meaning of Name: Iridophanes: Gr. Iridos= rainbow and phanes, phaino= displaying, to show.
pulcherrimus: L. pulcher, pulchra= beautiful. Pulcherrimus= very beautiful.

See more of the Family Thraupidae