Greenish Puffleg
Haplophaedia aureliae
A fairly dull green hummingbird with small white puffs at the base of each leg. Otherwise devoid of flashy field marks; look for a rather short straight bill, diffuse scaled appearance on the underparts, dark tail, and coppery sheen on the head. Sexes similar. Usually uncommon in Andean cloud forest from 1,500–2,500 m; can be found within forest or at the edge.
Identification
The greenish puffleg is 9 to 11.6 cm (3.5 to 4.6 in) long and weighs 4 to 6.5 g (0.14 to 0.23 oz). Males of the nominate subspecies have green upperparts with a coppery hue on the head and neck. The underparts are duller green with a grayish white scaly appearance. The leg puffs are white on the outside and buff on the inside. The slightly forked tail is blue-black. Females are similar but their underparts are more heavily scaled and their leg puffs entirely white. Juveniles resemble females.<p>Subspecies H. a. caucensis has grass green upperparts with a more intense coppery tinge on the head and rump than the nominate, and also a white patch on the belly. Males of H. a. floccus are similar to caucensis but with paler green underparts and less of a coppery tinge on the upperparts, but in addition bright cinnamon uppertail coverts. The female's foreneck and breast have prominent white scaling. Males of H. a. galindoi are darker green above and below compared to floccus and the scaling of females' underparts is more muted. H. a. russata has a longer bill and brighter copper upperparts than the nominate and its underparts are scaled brown rather than grayish white. H. a. cutucuensis is like the nominate but with much heavier grayish white scaling on the underparts.
Taxonomy
An early author included Haplophaedia in genus Eriocnemis but later work confirmed that they are separate sister genera.<p>The greenish puffleg has six recognized subspecies (but see the text below the list):<p>The taxonomy of this species is unsettled. H. a. russata has sometimes been treated as a separate species. H. a. floccus and H. a. galindoi have sometimes been included in H. a. caucensis. The two subspecies of buff-thighed puffleg (H. assimilis) were originally included in H. aureliae, then split from it. As of early 2022 H. assimilis is under consideration for reinclusion in aureliae but the proposal does not have much support. The greenish and buff-thighed pufflegs are now treated as sister species.
- Scientific name
- Haplophaedia aureliae
- Authority
- (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1846)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Haplophaedia
Range and habitat
The subspecies of the greenish puffleg are found thus:<p>The South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society and the Clements taxonomy include Peru in the species' range but the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) does not.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The greenish puffleg possibly makes seasonal elevational movements.<p>The greenish puffleg forages for nectar mostly in the lower levels of the forest but will go to the canopy to feed at flowering Inga trees. It is territorial and defends clusters of flowers. In addition to nectar, it feeds on insects that it gleans from leaves.<p>The greenish puffleg's breeding season appears to be from December to March but nesting activity has been recorded in other months as well. The female builds a cup nest of moss and cobwebs lined with fine plant material and suspends it below a large leaf that provides protection from rain. It is usually within about 2 m (7 ft) of the ground. The female incubates the clutch of two eggs; incubation time and time to fledging are not known.<p>Groups of male greenish pufflegs sing from high perches, "endlessly repeating a double-noted 'tur seet' or 'tskut'".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
A fairly small and very dull-looking flycatcher. Grayish brown above and whitish below with a thin white eyering, three pale wingbars, and pinkish base to the bill. Note the round head with only a very slight crested appearance. Found in woodlands and edges up to around 1,200 m. Breeds from southern Brazil to central Argentina, migrating north in the austral winter to far northern South America. Extremely similar to White-crested Elaenia, which tends to show a less obvious eyering and has only two wingbars. Note vocalizations, which include a slightly burry “wh’eer” call, a fast complex “tweedle-twee,” and single “pip” notes.
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Rather drab but distinctive little bird: note slender, thrush-like bill (not stout, like superficially similar sparrows), blue-gray head sides, streaked back. Usually seen as singles or pairs, hopping on lawns or paths with distinctive shuffling gait. Found in a variety of open scrubby and wooded habitats, from low bleak heathland to parks, gardens, and farmland with hedges. Undistinguished, slightly tinny, rambling song has an even, warbled cadence; distinctive when learned. A Eurasian native, introduced to New Zealand and a few surrounding islands.
Cabanis's Spinetail
Synallaxis cabanisi
Range-restricted, gray-and-red spinetail. Found in bamboo and other dense, tangly undergrowth in secondary forest in parts of the Andean foothills of Peru, Bolivia, and adjacent lowlands. Browner than the similar Dark-breasted Spinetail, which has a gray face and underparts. Darker and more reddish on the upperparts and crown than other similar species like Plain-crowned and Pale-breasted Spinetails. Forages singly or in pairs in the undergrowth. Listen for its call: a nasal “nyeck-nyeck.”
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