Red-tailed Comet
Sappho sparganurus
Unmistakable and spectacular hummingbird of the high Andes and outlying mountains from near the Peru-Bolivia border south to central Argentina. The male’s green-gold back that fades to a long, shimmering red tail is distinctive even from distance. The female also has a unique elongated red tail. This species generally occurs in arid or open habitats, to and above treeline, and tends to be most abundant near flowering Cardon cacti and tree tobacco.
Identification
Male red-tailed comets are 19 to 20 cm (7.5 to 7.9 in) long including their 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) tail. Females are 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long. The species weighs about 4 to 6.5 g (0.14 to 0.23 oz). Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a shining green head with a golden green or emerald green gorget. Their back and rump are reddish purple and their underparts mostly green with buffy undertail coverts. Their tail is long and deeply forked. Its upper surface looks reddish purple to green depending on the angle of the light striking it. The tail feathers have a wide velvety black to dusky purple tip. Adult females are overall duller than males and have a shorter tail. Their head and back are shining green and their rump reddish purple. Their throat and underparts are pale buff with small green speckles on the throat, breast, and upper belly. Their outer tail feathers have white or buffy white outer webs. Juveniles are similar to adult females but have dull bronzy green upperparts with a slightly coppery rump and more white on their outer tail feathers. Subspecies S. s. sapho is paler than the nominate and is golden orange where the nominate is reddish purple. Both sexes of both subspecies have a reddish brown iris, a black bill, and black legs and feet.
Taxonomy
The red-tailed comet was formally described in 1812 by the English naturalist George Shaw under the binomial name Trochilus sparganurus. The type locality is Bolivia. Some early twentieth century authors placed it in genus Lesbia. The red-tailed comet is now the only species in genus Sappho that was introduced in 1849 by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach. The genus name refers to Sappho, an ancient Greek poet of Lesbos. The specific epithet sparganurus combines the Ancient Greek σπαργανόω/spargaō meaning 'to wrap' and ουρά/oura meaning 'tail'.<p>The red-tailed comet has two subspecies, the nominate S. s. sparganurus (Shaw, 1812) and S. s. sapho (Lesson, R, 1828). In the early twentieth century at least one author treated the two as individual species.<p>In at least part of its range it is known in the local Quechua language as Q'ori Kenti (lit. 'golden hummingbird'). It is called the picaflor cometa in Argentina.
- Scientific name
- Sappho sparganurus
- Authority
- (Shaw, 1812)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Sappho
Range and habitat
Sources do not agree on the red-tailed comet's range. According to the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society it is found only in Argentina and Brazil. Other taxonomic systems and authors add to its range Chile, possibly Peru but not Chile, both Chile and Peru, or Peru and possibly Chile. The sources also differ in the distributions of the two subspecies. The nominate subspecies is variously placed in northern Bolivia and possibly extreme southern Peru, in northern and central Bolivia, and in northern and central Bolivia and accidentally in southern Peru. Subspecies S. s. sapho is variously placed in central Bolivia and northern and western Argentina, in southern Bolivia, northern and western Argentina, and east-central Chile, and from southern Bolivia to western Argentina and northern Chile.<p>The red-tailed comet inhabits arid montane scrublands on the eastern slope of the Andes and in valleys within the Andes. The landscape is characterized by scattered trees, a bushy understorey, and dense tangles in ravines. It also occurs in Polylepis woodlands. In elevation it ranges moslty between 1,500 and 4,200 m (4,900 and 13,800 ft) but has been reported as low as 400 m (1,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Northern Royal Albatross
Diomedea sanfordi
Huge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds mainly on Chatham Islands in New Zealand, but ranges widely. Especially numerous in Humboldt Current off western South America. Easily separated at a distance from smaller albatrosses by white back. From the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) by uniformly dark upperwings at all ages with otherwise clean white appearance (including mostly white tail, occasionally with small black markings). This combination of features is never shown by Wandering-types, and Northern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body or a mostly black tail. At close range, note the diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill, lacking on Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Northern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. Very similar to Southern Royal Albatross; best separated by uniformly dark upperwings, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can also have dark upperwings with very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further north than Southern Royal, but some overlap.
Rufous-breasted Sabrewing
Campylopterus hyperythrus
Large, conspicuous hummingbird of tepui highlands. Green above and rufous below. Note extensively rufous outer tail feathers, which are easily seen as birds tend to flare tail frequently. Generally common at higher elevations (above 1000 m), especially at forest edge and in lower-stature, scrubby vegetation. Feeds on nectar and pugnaciously defends patches of flowers against other hummingbirds. Not shy and will approach to investigate observers. In territorial interactions, gives a rich, sharp note, often doubled, repeated incessantly, and similar to calls of more widespread Gray-breasted Sabrewing; also gives a single, ascending, burry note, possibly as an alarm call. No other hummingbird in highland range is as large or shows as much rufous.
Antarctic Prion
Pachyptila desolata
A medium-sized prion with a noticeable dark “M'' stretched across their back from wingtip to wingtip noticeable in flight. They breed on Antarctic and subantarctic islands in the South Indian, Southern and South Atlantic Oceans and are widespread and abundant at sea around these areas. Regular visitor to New Zealand and Southern Australia during the austral winter. Very similar to other prion species, especially Salvin’s prion, with the Antarctic prion having a slightly brighter blue bill with straighter sides and a larger nail at the tip.
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