Undoubtedly, one of the most stunning avian creatures is a brightly colored and petite bird that thrives in densely wooded areas. Allow me to introduce you to the Attila Euphonia.
The Chlorophonia musica, also known as the Antillean euphonia, boasts a striking appearance with its contrasting upper body of black mantle and glossy blue back, and yellow underparts, rump, and upper tail coverts. Its tail, flight feathers, and general upper wing area are black. The forehead is a bright yellow, while the lores, ear-coverts, sides of the head, chin, and throat are a dark shade of violet. Its crown and nape sport a lovely sky blue color that extends down to its throat. The bill is black, the legs and feet gray, and the eyes brown.
The species displays distinct differences between the males and females. The female members have a lighter appearance with yellow-green bodies, wings, turquoise crowns, and nape. Additionally, a patch of gold embellishes their forehead, adding to their vibrant look. On the other hand, the juveniles resemble the females but appear relatively duller overall.
If you’re looking for these feathered creatures, you can spot them on the major islands of the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola (which includes the Dominican Republic and Haiti). The photo credit goes to Ryan Mandelbaum under CC BY 2.0.
The Antillean Euphonia species likes to inhabit various terrains ranging from lowlands to high mountains within their range. They tend to frequent forests with varying levels of humidity, and can often be observed along the edges and in disturbed areas where mistletoe grows.
These birds have a preference for snacking on tiny fruits, particularly those found on mistletoe. They travel in small groups, hopping from one bunch of mistletoe to another, and either eat the fruits while on the wing or perch to do so.
The breeding season takes place from January to July, during which a dome-shaped nest is built using moss and small rootlets. The nest is usually hidden among the vegetation, particularly in epiphytes. It is made up of dried grass and pieces of vegetation, where three to four white eggs with red to brown markings are laid. Incubation is carried out by both parents, although the female does most of the work. The young are fed by both parents and become fledged after 17 to 24 days.
Although the population is suspected to be stable, some decline may occur depending on the range and subspecies.
