Black-breasted puffleg
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2016) |
Black-breasted puffleg | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Clade: | Strisores |
Order: | Apodiformes |
Family: | Trochilidae |
Genus: | Eriocnemis |
Species: | E. nigrivestis
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Binomial name | |
Eriocnemis nigrivestis | |
The black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) is a species of hummingbird native to Ecuador. It is Critically Endangered, with no more than 250 individuals remaining in the wild.[3]
Description
The species reaches a length of 8–9 cm. It is sexually dimorphic, with the male having black upper- and underparts, dark blue tail coverts, and a violet-blue throat and undertail-coverts. The female is bronze-green above, bluish-green on rump and uppertail-coverts, golden-green underparts and a pale blue chin. Both sexes have a straight black bill, a forked tail and white pufflegs, from which the common name is derived.[1]
There is no characteristic vocalization; the species is generally quite silent, but may on occasion emit a monotonous and metallic "tseet tseet tseet" when it flies away.
Distribution and habitat
The black-breasted puffleg is endemic to north-western Ecuador, where it currently appears restricted to the ridge crests of the
Ecology
Like most hummingbirds, the species primarily feeds on nectar and insects. It follows a seasonally changing feeding pattern based on available blooms (mostly ericas and fuchsias). Areas of forest with a high number of nectar-containing flowers will be heavily defended against other hummingbirds.[5]
Reproduction
In breeding season, the male performs short display flights in front of the female. The species is not monogamous, and males can copulate with several females in the same breeding season. The construction of the nest, the incubation and the care of the chicks are the responsibility of the female. The nest consists of moss and fibers, together with some animal fur and feathers. Some nests are built with spiders webs and others sticky materials, which allow the nest to stretch itself to twice its original size as the chicks grow. It is normally placed on low horizontal branches.
Two white eggs are usually incubated. The mother feeds them (by regurgitating) mostly on insects, as nectar does not contain enough protein to sustain chick growth. A nesting female can catch up to 2,000 insects per day. The chicks leave the nest after 20 days. The birds are altitudinal migrants, generally being found at altitudes of 2850–3500 m between April and September, but remaining above 3100 m during the breeding season from November to February.[5]
Habitat selection
The black-breasted puffleg's response to microhabitats variations is extremely sensitive. It has been suggested that the species is under competitive disadvantage for the same ecological niche with others hummingbird species, specifically the Gorgeted sunangel, and that avoidance of forest borders is used to mitigate the stress imposed by the seasonal altitudinal migrations.[6]
Conservation
The species is classified as
A primary source of
On June 23, 2005, the Municipality of Quito adopted the black-breasted puffleg as the emblem of the capital city.
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ "Black-breasted puffleg". www.biologicaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Fundación Jocotoco Ecuador". Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ .
- .
- Carrión, J. M. (2002). Aves de Quito, Retratos y encuentros. Simbioe.
- Jahn, O. (2008). "Rediscovery of Black-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis nigrivestis in the Cordillera de Toisán, north-west Ecuador, and reassessment of its conservation status". Cotinga. 29: 31–39.
- Solano-Ugalde, A.; Freile, J. (2012). "A decade of progress (2001-2010): overview of distributional records of birds in mainland Ecuador". Ornitología Neotropical. 23: 29–35.
External links
- Black Breasted Puffleg
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Black-breasted puffleg videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Photo-High Res; Article mindobirds.com
- Black-breasted puffleg photo gallery VIREO Photo-High Res