Bird Quiz: Blue-Crowned Chlorophonia


Photograph by Laurens Steijn

1. In addition to Guatemala, in what other Central American countries might you find the blue-crowned chlorophonia?
a. El Salvador
b. Honduras
c. Mexico
d. All of the above

2. How many chlorophonia species are there?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7

3. True or False: None of the chlorophonia species are endangered or threatened.

4. In what type of habitat can the blue-crowned chlorophonia live?
a. subtropical/tropical-lowland moist forests
b. artificial landscapes such as plantations
c. both
d. neither

5. True or False: Female blue-crowned chlorophonias are brown.


Photograph by Laurens Steijn

Answers
1. In addition to Guatemala, in what other Central American countries might you find the blue-crowned chlorophonia?
D, all of the above.
This bird has a pretty wide range, according to its profile on the IUCN RedList. So though it may be hard to spot high up in the canopy, the bird is not threatened or endangered.

2. How many chlorophonia species are there?
C, 5.
According to bird expert and Audubon field editor Kenn Kaufman, the species of the little guy in our picture is the only one as far north as Guatemala. The other four species are golden-browed chlorophonia, blue-naped chlorophonia, yellow-collared chlorophonia, and chestnut-breasted chlorophonia.

3. True or False: None of the chlorophonia species are endangered or threatened.
True, all the chlorophonias are IUCN RedList species of Least Concern. However, populations of the golden-browed, yellow-collared, and chestnut-breasted chlorophonia appear to be in decline.

4. In what type of habitat can the blue-crowned chlorophonia live?
C, both moist tropical forest and plantations. According to BirdLife International, subtropical- and tropical-lowland moist forests make up the major habitat, but these neon birds do find artificial landscapes such as coffee plantations suitable.

5. True or False: Female blue-crowned chlorophonias are brown.
False, males and females share that beautiful green color. The females do, however, have different flank and throat colors than their male counterparts. Chicks of this species are green all over.