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
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioides
Large, two-toned warbler, warm brown above with a pale, unstreaked breast. May recall Eurasian Reed-Warbler but note long undertail coverts with indistinct pale tips. Not typically easy to see, but singing birds are usually partially exposed. Breeds in extensive reed beds and winters in various habitats with tangled, rank vegetation. The song is a metallic, continuous, low-pitched, and insectlike series like Common Grasshopper-Warbler but lower pitched. Calls include a low “tik tik tik”, as well as a higher-pitched “tsip.”
Torresian Crow
Corvus orru
Australian crows and ravens are challenging to identify; concentrate on call, throat-hackles, behavior, and location. Calls include fairly short, repeated “ah-ah-ah” and a unique rattling croaking. Throat hackles can look impressive, leading to confusion with ravens. Inhabits many habitats in northern two-thirds of Australia and in New Guinea. The default crow/raven of Darwin, Cairns, and Brisbane.
Junin Tapaculo
Scytalopus gettyae
Poorly known Peruvian endemic found only in high Andean cloud forest northeast of the city of Huancayo. It was described to science in 2013. Adult male is plain gray, lacking the rufous barring on the lower underparts shown by Rufous-vented Tapaculo and Trilling Tapaculo. Female plumage not yet known with certainty. Younger birds are heavily marked with bars or scales. Best identified by range and voice. Typical song is a lengthy series that starts out with simple notes and gradually transitions into sputtering bursts.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.