Viridian Metaltail
Metallura williami
Short-billed hummingbird found near tree line in the high Andes. Male is deep green with a dark and sometimes glittering throat patch; female is similar but lacks throat patch and is scaled buff or rufous below. Tail color varies geographically; it can be green or blue, and it can even show a bit of rufous on top, though never as much as the tail of Tyrian Metaltail. Feeds on small flowers in páramo and at the edge of elfin forest.
识别特征
The viridian metaltail is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 4.1 to 5.3 g (0.14 to 0.19 oz). It has a medium length, straight, black bill. The adult male of the nominate subspecies has bottle green upper- and underparts. Its gorget is glittering bottle green and it has a purplish blue, slightly forked, tail. The adult female's upperparts are also bottle green. Its throat, breast, and belly are mottled green and white and its outer tail feathers have whitish tips on their underside. Juveniles are similar to adult females.<p>Subspecies M. w. recisa has a shorter bill, a more deeply forked tail, and shinier underparts than the nominate. M. w. primolina's tail is reddish black on top and shining green below and only slightly forked. M. w. atrigularis has a black patch in the center of its gorget; its tail is slightly forked and its underside is shining green.
分类信息
The viridian metaltail has these four recognized subspecies:<p>Subspecies M. w. primolina and M. w. atrigularis were at one time each treated as separate species but since at least the mid 20th century have been considered subspecies. However, in the early 21st century atrigularis was again suggested as a possible separate species.
- 学名
- Metallura williami
- 命名信息
- (Delattre & Bourcier, 1846)
- 目
- Apodiformes
- 科
- Trochilidae
- 属
- Metallura
分布与栖息地
The subspecies of viridian metaltail are found thus:<p>The viridian metaltail inhabits páramo grasslands with scattered shrubs and the shrubby edges of humid montane forest and elfin forest. In Ecuador it usually occurs between 2,700 and 3,600 m (8,900 and 11,800 ft) of elevation and ranges up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in Colombia. There have been sightings as low as 2,100 m (6,900 ft).
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
The viridian metaltail is assumed to be sedentary, but males might disperse to the higher elevations outside the breeding season.<p>The viridian metaltail forages at all levels of its habitat's vegetation. It feeds on nectar while hovering and favors shrubs of families Ericaceae and Melastomataceae. Males defend feeding territories.<p>The viridian metaltail's breeding season has not been well defined but appears to be within February to August. Nests are made of moss lined with soft plant down and small feathers, and are often placed in a rocky niche or other sheltered spot. The female incubates the clutch of two white eggs.<p>One vocalizatin of the viridian metaltail is "a descending series of 3–5 squeaky notes, often followed by several jumbled dry buzzy trills 'trsee-seee-seee-sew..trrk-tsetswe-trrk'". It also makes " repeated dry buzzy or gravelly notes."
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Andean Teal
Anas andium
Small duck found in high elevation lakes and wetlands from Venezuela to southern Ecuador. Dark grayish-brown overall with spotted breast and fine vermiculations on head. Dark gray bill. Sexes similar. Usually uncommon; not as numerous as its southern counterpart, Yellow-billed Teal. Typically seen in pairs or small groups.
Hartert's Camaroptera
Camaroptera harterti
A small, chunky, wren-like understory warbler that often leans forward and cocks its short tail. This species has brown eyes, olive-green wings and tail, and white underparts. Found in evergreen forest understory, plantation, and thickets along the Angolan escarpment. Usually in pairs, hopping about, often low to the ground, searching for small insects. The two common vocalizations are a nasal “meehrrp” alarm call and a strident repeated snapping “strik-strik-strik-strik-strik” song. Very similar to Green-backed Camaroptera, but tail is brighter green, rather than gray or gray-green, and underparts are cleaner white, rather than grayish, especially on the breast.
White-faced Robin
Eopsaltria leucops
Tiny songbird found in dense rainforest of northern Cape York Peninsula (not expected in the Cairns area). Round olive bird with black head, white face, and bright yellow underparts. Typically seen singly or in pairs; perches on low branches and on the side of tree trunks before flying down to the ground to capture prey. Compare Yellow-breasted Boatbill, which has longer tail, white wingbars, and yellow eyebrow. Call is a repeated series of short, sharp whistles.
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