Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird
Saucerottia castaneiventris
Endangered hummingbird with a small range in the northern part of Colombia’s eastern Andes and in the San Lucas Mountains. Note the reddish-orange belly and bright rusty tail. Females and younger birds are duller than adult males and might be confused with Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, but lack green on the flanks. Inhabits lighter woodland and forest edge, and generally avoids dense forest.
Identification
The chestnut-bellied hummingbird is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long. Both sexes have a black bill with a red base to the mandible. The adult male has bronze-green upperparts and a chestnut tail. Its throat and upper breast are glittering green, the belly chestnut, and the undertail coverts chestnut with greenish edges. The female is similar but with a slightly paler belly and white bars near the end of some throat feathers. Immatures are similar to the female with rufous edges on the feathers of the neck and rump.
Taxonomy
The chestnut-bellied hummingbird was formerly placed in the genus Amazilia. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that the genus Amazilia was polyphyletic. In the revised classification to create monophyletic genera, the chestnut-bellied hummingbird was moved by most taxonomic systems to the resurrected genus Saucerottia. However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) retains it in Amazilia.<p>The chestnut-bellied hummingbird is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Saucerottia castaneiventris
- Authority
- (Gould, 1856)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Saucerottia
Range and habitat
The chestnut-bellied hummingbird appears to be restricted to the dryer parts of the Magdalena Valley of Colombia, with a core known range in the Chicamocha, Suárez and Chucurí River valleys. As of 2019 it was known from at least 14 sites. However, it is not regularly documented at most of them, perhaps because of unknown seasonal movements. Most records are from arid brushy canyons with a few from the lower edges of humid montane forest. Most records are from elevations between 500 and 1,500 m (1,600 and 4,900 ft) but some extend to between 340 and 2,200 m (1,100 and 7,200 ft) and one is at 120 m (390 ft).
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The chestnut-bellied hummingbird is believed to move from higher to lower elevations after the breeding season.<p>Details are lacking about the chestnut-bellied hummingbird's feeding technique and diet, but it is known to take nectar from Salvia and Trichanthera. It also feeds on small arthropods.<p>Specimens of chestnut-bellied hummingbird in breeding condition suggest that its breeding season is from August to December. Nothing else is known about its breeding phenology and its nest has not been described.<p>The chestnut-bellied hummingbird's song is "a short rhythmic phrase of three squeaky notes that sounds like a rusty door-hinge, 'krey-ki-cheep ... tsew ... krey-ki-cheep ...'." It also makes calls described as " a slightly buzzy 'tzee', a high-pitched 'see' and a stuttering high-pitched chattering."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
Coeligena bonapartei
Large, long-billed hummingbird restricted to the eastern Andes of Colombia, where it inhabits high elevation cloud forest. Both sexes are clad in iridescent green and gold plumage. Similar to Blue-throated Starfrontlet; male is distinguished by his golden (not purple) belly; female lacks violet on flanks and has a bronzy (not bluish) rump. Prefers long, tubular flowers where often seen feeding nearly vertically, and occasionally visits feeders. Birds from the Perijá Mountains and the Venezuelan Andes are now considered to be separate species, Perija Starfrontlet and Merida Starfrontlet respectively.
Masked Trogon
Trogon personatus
Average red-bellied trogon of subtropical forests. Male is iridescent green on breast, head, and back; female is brown. Namesake dark mask is usually obvious, especially on females. Nearly identical to Collared Trogon but very little overlap; Masked is almost always found at higher elevations. Where both are possible, look especially at tail pattern on males: large white tips on underside of tail feathers, otherwise dark with very fine white barring. On females, look for evenly barred undertail with large white tips combined with contrasting black face. Usually found singly or in pairs, perched quietly from the understory to the subcanopy. Listen for slow series of 3–6 descending whistles.
Enggano Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula oenothorax
Large pigeon from Enggano island off Sumatra. Other than deep green wings and back, predominantly pale gray, though slightly darker on the back of the neck. Distinctive pale pink wash across the chest. Inhabits wooded areas including edge and second growth near human habitation. No pigeons of a similar size and color occur on the island. Very vocal, with a wide repertoire, including a purring “krooooo”.
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