Marvelous Spatuletail
Loddigesia mirabilis
Celebrated hummingbird restricted to Andean cloud forest in northern Peru. With his outrageous tail, blue crown, and iridescent green throat, the male ranks as one of the world’s most spectacular birds. He occasionally molts his distinctive tail feathers, so it is not unusual to see males lacking one or both rackets, or with one much longer than the other. Female is mainly green above and white below; she is best identified by the combination of a white spot behind the eye, a speckled throat, and slightly elongated tail feathers with blunt tips. Feeds on flowers at low to middle levels, usually at forest edge or in clearings. Visits feeders at the Huembo Reserve near Pomacochas.
Identification
The male marvelous spatuletail is 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) long including its 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) tail. Females are 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long with a 5 to 7 cm (2.0 to 2.8 in) tail. The male's signature feature is its two outer tail feathers with bare shafts that cross each other and end in large purplish black racquets or "spatules". The remaining tail feathers are very short and are supported by two long undertail coverts. The female's outer tail feathers are also long, but shorter than the male's, and do not have the racquets.<p>Both sexes have a slightly decurved black bill and a white spot behind the eye. Males have mostly green upperparts with a blue crest and a brownish hindneck. Their gorget is glossy blue-green and the rest of the underparts are white with a black line down the center. Females are also green above but do not have a crest or gorget. Their underparts are white without the male's black central line.
Taxonomy
The marvelous spatuletail is currently (early 2022) treated by worldwide taxonomic systems as the only member of its genus. However, a molecular phylogenetic study of the hummingbirds published in 2014 found that the marvelous spatuletail was embedded in genus Eriocnemis, the "pufflegs". Moving it to Eriocnemis would require that the colorful puffleg (currently E. mirabilis) receive a new specific epithet because the spatuletail's mirabilis has priority.
- Scientific name
- Loddigesia mirabilis
- Authority
- (Bourcier, 1847)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Loddigesia
Range and habitat
The marvelous spatuletail is found only in a small area in the Andes of northern Peru. Most records are from the valley of the Utcubamba River in Amazonas Department with a few further east in the Department of San Martín. It inhabits the edges of mature forest, secondary forest, and montane scrublands. It is partial to thickets of thorny Rubus with alder (Alnus). In elevation it ranges between 2,100 and 2,900 m (6,900 and 9,500 ft) though there are unconfirmed reports both higher and lower.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The marvelous spatuletail is a year-round resident of its range.<p>The marvelous spatuletail forages by trap-lining, visiting a circuit of flowering plants where it perches to feed. It is most often seen feeding at a red-flowered lily (Bomarea formosissima) but has been observed feeding in at least five other species of flowering plants. It is dominated by other hummingbird species that share its range.<p>Little is known about the marvelous spatuletail's breeding phenology. Its breeding season appears to be between December and February but may extend from October to May. Males gather at leks and perform an aerial display.<p>The male marvelous spatuletail gives "a repeated high-pitched buzzy metallic note...'tzzz...tzzz...'" during its aerial display. Its calls include "an upslurred high-pitched sweet note 'tswee'" and "a more strident 'tsik'".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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