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Shining Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes lucidus

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9.19116, -83.7703

Field Notes

Description:

First time that I have photographed this species in Costa Rica...The books say that the Purple Honeycreeper is found only as far north as Panama...My error, it is a Shining Honeycreeper, visibly the same as the Purple Honeycreeper...

Species ID Suggestions

Shining Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes lucidus

Reference Link
Anne Marie McCaffrey
1

Comments (6)
Jellis
Don't forget to add the Scientific name so it can be entered into the database
MatthewKritzer
Thank you, Anne Marie....It must be a Shining Honeycreeper which is found in Costa Rica, though this is my first time photographing this species except for the Red-legged Honeycreeper that I posted a while ago...again, thank you...
Anne Marie McCaffrey
From what I am reading, while they were once considered conspecific, the official word at the moment is that Purple and Shining Honeycreepers are separate species. Their range overlaps in Panama but they do not interbreed. As this was spotted in Costa Rica, it would therefore be Shining Honeycreeper. Visually, to me, they look exactly the same!
Anne Marie McCaffrey
I can't see any difference between Purple Honeycreeper and Shining Honeycreeper - apparently they are considered by some to be conspecific...
Anne Marie McCaffrey
Obviously I can only see the head (beautiful shot!), but could this be a Shining Honeycreeper? Do you have a shot showing the legs. Shining Honeycreeper has bright yellow legs.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Paso Pacifico Survey
Mission
Birds of Panama and Costa Rica
Mission
Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor
Mission
2013 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedApril 14, 2013

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