Rainbow Starfrontlet
Coeligena iris
Large and spectacular hummingbird found in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Plumage varies geographically, but all birds have bright chestnut on lower back, tail, belly, and wings, along with a green breast. Crown color ranges from rusty at the northern limit of its range to glittering green and blue farther south. Throat patch may be purple or blue and varies in size. Also note rather long bill. Female is duller than male and lacks throat patch and iridescence. Inhabits montane forest and scrub, and occasionally visits feeders.
Identification
The rainbow starfrontlet is 12.5 to 14 cm (4.9 to 5.5 in) long. Males weigh 6.7 to 8.8 g (0.24 to 0.31 oz) and females 6 to 8.1 g (0.21 to 0.29 oz). Both sexes have a long, straight, black bill, with the female's being somewhat longer than the male's. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye. Both sexes also have a forked tail, but the male's is more deeply indented than the female's. The subspecies differ significantly in their plumage.<p>Males of the nominate subspecies have a glittering yellow-green forecrown that transitions through golden yellow to blue on the crown. Their upperparts are mostly blackish with a green sheen and are chestnut on the lower back and rump. The throat and chest are glittering emerald green and the throat has a small violet spot. The belly, undertail coverts, and tail are chestnut. Nominate females are generally similar to the males but with less of a metallic sheen, and juveniles are similar to adult females.<p>Males of subspecies C. i. hesperus have a dark golden-red crown with a blue stripe, a golden green back, green underparts with a violet throat spot, and bronzy tips on the chestnut tail feathers. Females are a duller version of the male. Males of C. i. aurora have a turquoise crown with golden tips to the feathers, a black hindneck, and light chestnut upperparts. Their chin and throat are turquoise and the rest of the underparts light chestnut. Females are again a duller version of the male. C. i. flagrans is similar to the nominate but with a coppery hindneck and back. C. i. fulgidiceps is also similar to the nominate but with a blackish neck and upper back and darker chestnut on the underparts. Males of C. i. eva have a yellowish green forecrown, a dark violet crown, and a coppery hindneck and back. Their chin, throat, and breast are emerald green and the rest of the underparts chestnut. They do not have the violet throat patch of the other subspecies. The female has a coppery green head and lighter underparts than the male.
Taxonomy
The rainbow starfrontlet has these six subspecies:<p>Early in the 20th century, subspecies C. i. hesperus, C. i. aurora, C. i. eva were considered to be separate species. "Striking differences between subspecies suggest that several are very close to species status...further gathering and analysis of evidence is needed, however, in order to produce coherent revision of species limits in this complex."
- Scientific name
- Coeligena iris
- Authority
- (Gould, 1853)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Coeligena
Range and habitat
The six subspecies of rainbow starfrontlet are found thus:<p>The rainbow starfrontlet inhabits the edges of both humid and semi-humid cloudforest, gardens, and riparian scrub. In elevation it generally ranges from 1,700 to 3,300 m (5,600 to 10,800 ft) but has been recorded as high as 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in northern Peru's Huascarán National Park.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The rainbow starfrontlet is presumed to be sedentary.<p>The rainbow starfrontlet forages for nectar by trap-lining, visiting a circuit of a wide variety of flowering plants, most of which have tubular red flowers. Examples include those of genera Embothrium, Fuchsia, Iochroma, Mutisia, Salvia, and Tilandsia. It usually forages within 2 to 4 m (7 to 10 ft) of the ground. In addition to feeding on nectar it captures small arthropods by hawking.<p>The rainbow starfrontlet's breeding season lasts from November into January. The female builds a cup nest of small twigs, moss, and lichens lined with soft plant fibers. It is typically placed in the fork of a small branch. No further details of its breeding phenology have been documented.<p>During aerial chases, the rainbow starfrontlet makes a "thin, wiry chatter, rising and falling, with rattles and squeaky notes". It also makes "tsit" or "tip" notes.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Ramosomyia violiceps
This attractive hummingbird has pure white underparts. Also note bright red bill with black tip, purple crown, and dull brown back. Prefers riparian habitats, such as woodlands along rivers. Common in Mexico; only known from a few locations in U.S., but unmistakable in U.S. range. Visits hummingbird feeders.
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Large, plain tanager, gray overall with hints of olive-green in good light; note contrasting black wings with paler patch at base of primaries. A habitat generalist often found around palm trees and in open shrubby areas, gardens, and forest edges. Usually in pairs or small flocks, sometimes with other species. Often quite noisy and conspicuous; gives a series of sputtering squeaks or a single nasal “swee?”
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
A medium-sized woodland-dwelling kingfisher with a blue tail and flight feathers, dark brown back and shoulders, gray-brown streaked head, and dark-tipped reddish bill. In flight it has distinctive cinnamon underwings. Singles and pairs inhabit woodland, riverine forest, forest edges, and cultivation. Calls a short descending “ki-ti-ti-ti-it”. Gray-headed Kingfisher is similar but has a chestnut belly, grayer head and dark, and white-and-rufous (not all rufous) underwings in flight.
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