Rufous-webbed Brilliant
Heliodoxa branickii
Large, green hummingbird of montane forest. Males have a small red throat patch; females are duller green with a white-speckled belly. Both sexes have reddish-brown coloration on the inner webbing of wing feathers, giving the wings a brownish appearance in flight. Locally distributed, and often quite rare; it seems to be most common on some outlying ridges on the eastern side of the Andes.
Identification
The rufous-webbed brilliant is 11 to 11.5 cm (4.3 to 4.5 in) long. Males weigh about 5.8 g (0.20 oz) on average and females 5.4 g (0.19 oz). The species' English name comes from its cinnamon-rufous inner wing feathers; the rest of the wing is dusky. Both sexes have a black bill whose mandible base is paler. Males are mostly shining dark green. Their forehead is brighter glittering green and they have an iridescent rosy gorget. The undertail coverts are bright white. The central pair of tail feathers are green and the rest dark blue. Females also have shining dark green upperparts, flanks, and breast. They have a short white streak from the bill to below the eye. The throat and breast are white, with shining green tips to the feathers, and the belly is white to buffy. A gorget is often lacking, and when present is paler and yellower than the male's. The undertail coverts are bright white like the male's, but the blue outer tail feathers have white tips.
Taxonomy
The rufous-webbed brilliant was at one time treated as the sole member of genus Lampraster, which in the mid 20th century was merged into the present genus Heliodoxa. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Heliodoxa branickii
- Authority
- (Taczanowski, 1874)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Heliodoxa
Range and habitat
The rufous-webbed brilliant has been conclusively recorded only on the east slope of the Andes from central to southern Peru. There are also unconfirmed records in Bolivia. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid montane forest at elevations between 650 and 1,700 m (2,100 and 5,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The rufous-webbed brilliant's movements, if any, have not been documented.<p>The rufous-webbed brilliant primarily forages for nectar in the forest's understory and its edges, though the species of flowering plants it feeds at are only slightly known. It also eats small insects.<p>The rufous-webbed brilliant's breeding phenology has not been documented.<p>The rufous-webbed brilliant's song is "a series of chew notes interspersed with a short, rapid, descending trill." Its call is "a sweet, descending tew".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Parasitic Weaver
Anomalospiza imberbis
Odd little short-tailed and chunky-billed member of the indigobird family. The male is yellow, with dark wings and tail, while the female is brown and streaky on the back and buff on the face and underparts. Found in moist grassland and open savanna. Uncommon across its range. Indistinct song consists of short, rasping phrases. Male could be confused with canaries but has an all-black bill. Female resembles female bishops but has a shorter and thicker all-black bill.
Streaked Rosefinch
Carpodacus rubicilloides
Large, bulky rosefinch. Male is pinkish-red below with a streaked brown back. Female is streaky dust-brown all over. Both sexes are very similar to Great Rosefinch; look out for dark streaking on the back in both, as well as smaller white, more solid-looking white spots on the underparts of the male. Breeds in dry open expanses with sparse scrubby vegetation at around 3700-5200 meters. Winters in similar habitat, sometimes descending to lower elevations. Song consists of somewhat hoarse whistled notes. Gives a sparrow-like “chweep” and a shorter “chep.”
Black-faced Hawk
Leucopternis melanops
Smallish chunky hawk. Identifiable by size, shape, and prominent black mask contrasting with orange cere. Generally rare. Inhabits wet forests where it hunts from the mid-level to the ground; often perches well below canopy level. Takes relatively small prey, chiefly frogs and snakes. Superficially similar to White Hawk but much smaller with orange (not blue-gray) cere; unlike White Hawk, Black-faced tends not to soar for long periods and is less frequently seen than White Hawk.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.