White-throated Mountain-gem

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iWhite-throated Mountain-gem
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Trochiliformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
Species: Lampornis castaneoventris
Subspecies: L. c. castaneoventris
Trinomial name
Lampornis castaneoventris castaneoventris
(Gould, 1851)

The White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris) is a hummingbird which breeds in the mountains of western Panama. It is replaced in southern Costa Rica by a distinct subspecies, the Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, L. cinereicauda, which is very close to becoming a distinct species (García-Moreno et al., 2006). Another very close relative, the Purple-throated Mountain-gem, is found sympatrically.

This bird is 10.5 cm long. The shortish black bill is slightly curved.

The adult male has bronze-green upperparts and underparts except for a brilliant green crown, white throat and blue tail. The female lacks the bright crown and throat, and has rich cinnamon underparts. Young birds resemble the female but have buff fringes to the upperparts plumage.

The female White-throated Mountain-gem is entirely responsible for nest building and incubation. She lays two white eggs in a deep plant-fibre cup nest m high in a scrub, small tree or vine. Incubation takes 15-19 days, and fledging another 20-26.

The food of this species is nectar, taken from a variety of small flowers, including epiphytic Ericaceae. Like other hummingbirds it also takes small insects as an essential source of protein. Male White-throated Mountain-gems defend flowers and scrubs in their feeding territories, and are dominant over most other hummingbirds.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Lampornis castaneoventris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • García-Moreno, Jaime; Cortés, Nandadeví; García-Deras, Gabriela M. & Hernández-Baños, Blanca E. (2006): Local origin and diversification among Lampornis hummingbirds: A Mesoamerican taxon. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38(2): 488–498. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.08.015 (HTML abstract)
  • Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander F. (1990): A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
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