30 January 2010, El Valle, Cocle Province, Panama

This is the male which looks quite different from the female and is more
aqua than green.

These Honeycreepers were formerly placed with the Bananaquit, in the family
Coerebidae, but based on molecular studies are now classified with the
Tanagers in the family Thraupidae.

Seven races are recognized by Clements. Males of Middle American
populations are said to be slightly greener, less blue than subspecies in
South America, but I cannot see any obvious difference between this bird
and one I photographed in Trinidad (nominate C. s. spiza) in 2007.

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