25 January 2010, Chagres River, Gamboa, Panama

Rescued in Photoshop, the original of this photo was so badly backlit, the bird appeared to be entirely black. This male is in full bright plumage.
Unlike most other honeycreeper, Red-legged males molt into a female-like plumage during the non-breeding season.

New World Honeycreepers were formerly in their own family (Coerebidae), but are now recognized as Tanagers and placed in the family Thraupidae. Their long curved bills facilitate probing flowers for nectar and insects.

Ten other subspecies are found in the tropics of northern South America and adjacent islands. This race which ranges from Mexico into northwest Columbia has a smaller azure-blue colored crown patch and broader black
area on the back of the neck cf. other races.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter)