Speckled Hummingbird
Adelomyia melanogenys
Small brownish hummingbird with distinctive black cheek and pale buffy eyebrow. Throat variably speckled; some populations are cleaner than others. Green back; dark tail with buffy corners. Face pattern could recall a hermit, but combination of small size, straight dark bill, and squared tail should alleviate any confusion. Widespread and fairly common in the Andes, where it forages low within forest or at the forest edge. Found from 1,000–3,000m. Visits feeders.
Identification
The speckled hummingbird is a monomorphic species, making females and males indistinguishable. Adults measure approximately 8 cm, or 3 inches, in length (from bill to tip of tail). The upper plumage is a glossy green/bronze. The underside is pale, with green and bronze specks. It has a black cheek patch below its eye with a white stripe above.
Taxonomy
While the speckled hummingbird is the only species in its genus, evidence suggests that populations on either side of the Andes mountains are genetically distinct, especially due to its broad geographic and ecological distribution. Relationships with other hummingbirds are uncertain and is still in need of further studies.<p>Based on plumage coloration and biogeography, eight subspecies have been described, and known as Adelomyia melanogenys melanogenys, inornata, connectens, maculata, aenosticta, chlorospila, debellardiana and cervina. A recent study of this genus, based on molecular, morphological and ecological data recovered six monophyletic clades which show distributional limits at well-defined geographic barriers, not corresponding with the currently recognized limits of subspecies. Sequence divergence ranged between 5.8% and 8.2% between phylogroups separated by >4000 km and <50 km distances respectively, this gives support to the idea that geographic isolation may be influential at very different scales. Morphological traits are more related to environmental heterogeneity than to geographic barriers and isolation.
- Scientific name
- Adelomyia melanogenys
- Authority
- (Fraser, 1840)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Adelomyia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The speckled hummingbird is a solitary species. They neither live nor migrate in flocks and there is no pair bond for this species, making them a mainly sedentary species. Nevertheless, individuals may disperse to lower altitudes as the breeding periods finish.<p>Males do not participate in any part of nest building or brooding of the young, and disengage with female partners after copulation. Though, both males and females may be promiscuous, having multiple partners.<p>Female speckled hummingbirds incubate and feed nestlings. A clutch consists of two white eggs; measurements consist of 12.4 mm × 8.7 mm and 12.6 mm × 8.6 mm. The incubation period lasts approximately 17–20 days. The species broods for shorter durations than most hummingbirds during incubation. Speckled hummingbirds often travel several kilometers to avoid competition, making visits to the nest less frequent. After the young hatch, the adult continues brooding hatchlings for 7–8 days. After brooding and until the young have fledged, the adult will no longer enter the nest and instead perch nearby, potentially watching for predators. This behavior is curious, as perching outside a nest may alert predators of its location. Nests can be found all year round, and consist of a bulky cup shaped of moss and cobweb, lined with plant fibre. The construction of nests have been observed on moss-covered trunks or on rocky ridges, at the entrance of caves, at a height of 1–3 m.<p>The species does not gather with others to feed, even on flowering trees. Speckled hummingbirds feed on the nectar of flowers, often near the ground, either from short-tubed flowers or holes at the base of long-tubed flowers. Like other hummingbird species, it is likely that the speckled hummingbird will also feed on insects, for additional nutrients. The species may also collect small insects that are caught on or in the nest.
Conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). A very common hummingbird of moderate elevations in the Andes. Particularly abundant in the Andes above of Cali, Colombia, with densities of at least 10–12 pairs/km².
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Santa Marta Tapaculo
Scytalopus sanctaemartae
Small, mouse-like bird found in cloud forest understory in Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Adult male is gray with a white crown patch and rusty barring on the lower underparts. Female is washed with brown, and young birds have a lot of scaling and barring. The only other tapaculo in the Santa Martas is Brown-rumped Tapaculo, which lacks white in the crown, occurs at higher elevations, and has a different voice. Typical song is a very fast trill that lasts for at least ten seconds and may continue for a minute or more.
Yellow-eyed Junco
Junco phaeonotus
This distinctive sparrow is common in open montane woodland usually dominated by pine. Primarily a Mexican species, barely enters U.S. Much like Gray-headed and Red-backed subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco but with staring yellow eye and rufous back usually extending onto wings. Otherwise pale gray, darkest around the eye. Bill half black, half yellow. White outer tail feathers like Dark-eyed Junco. Forages on the ground, but perches higher when singing. Song has a similar ringing tone to Dark-eyed Junco, but usually with several distinct sections of chips and trills.
Red Wattlebird
Anthochaera carunculata
Large, gray-brown, streaked honeyeater with small pink flaps of facial skin (wattles) and a bright yellow lower belly. Adult has black crown, red eye with white patch below, yellow belly, and streaking across neck, back, and breast. Juvenile is more uniformly brown, with less defined facial wattles. This species is found in a wide variety of habitats across southern mainland Australia. It can be quite aggressive and typically chases smaller species away from flowering trees. Has a wide variety of loud, harsh vocalizations, many of which are familiar noises across southern Australia.
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