Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

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Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Eupetomena
Gould, 1853
Species: E. macroura
Binomial name
Eupetomena macroura
(Gmelin, 1788)
Synonyms

Campylopterus macrourus

The Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura) is a species in the Trochilidae family found mainly in east-central South America. Most authorities place it in the monotypic genus Eupetomena, although some place it in Campylopterus based on song and the structure of the primaries. Its common name refers to the long, deeply forked, somewhat swallow-like tail.

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[edit] Description

With a total length of 15-17 cm (6-6½ in), it is a relatively large hummingbird (the largest hummingbird in most of its range). Its plumage is brilliant iridescent green, with a blue head, upper chest, tail and vent. It has a slightly decurved medium-long black bill. The sexes are very similar, but females average smaller and duller than males. The subspecies vary mainly in the hue of the plumage, with the blue sections ranging from green-tinged blue over ultramarine to deep royal blue, and the green sections ranging from blue-tinged green over golden bronzy-green to deep bottle-green. It is virtually unmistakable, although occasionally confused with the male Violet-capped Woodnymph. Its voice includes relatively loud psek notes and weaker twitters.

[edit] Behavior

It feeds on flower nectar from families such as Bombacaceae, Leguminosae, Rubiaceae and Myrtaceae. It will also take insects caught by hawking. It mainly forages at low to mid-levels. It is aggressive and will defend nectar sources from other nectarivores. Due to its size, it is generally dominant over other species of hummingbirds. In south-eastern Brazil, it is a commonly seen at hummingbird feeders. The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of plant fibres, lichen, mosses, and spider webs, which is placed on a horizontal twig (typically below 3 m [10 ft], but occasionally as high as 15 m [50 ft] above the ground). The typical two eggs hatch after about 15 days, and the chicks fledge after 22-24 days.

[edit] Distribution

The majority of the range of the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is in the Caatinga and Cerrado of Brazil, and adjacent parts of northern and eastern Bolivia, and far northern Paraguay. In the coastal regions, it occurs from French Guiana in north to Santa Catarina, Brazil, in south. It generally avoids the rainforest found throughout most of the Amazon Basin, and only extends locally into this region along the southern and eastern edge, in the relatively open habitats along the lowermost sections of the Amazon River, including Marajó Island, and upstream to around the Tapajós River, and in isolated enclaves of woodland or savanna-like habitats within the Amazon (including so-called "Amazonian Caatinga") in south-eastern Peru (upper Urubamba River and Pampas del Heath), southern Suriname (Sipaliwini savanna), central Brazil, and northern Bolivia.

[edit] Habitat and status

It occurs in virtually any semi-open habitat; even gardens and parks within major cities such as Rio de Janeiro. It avoids the interior of humid forest, but does occur in openings or along the edge. It is generally a species of lowlands, but occurs locally up to 1500 m (4900 ft). Throughout the bulk of its range, it is among the commonest species of hummingbirds, although it generally is uncommon in the outermost sections of its range. It is therefore considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International.

[edit] Source

  • BirdLife International 2004. Eupetomena macroura. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
  • Grantsau, R. 1988. Beija-flores do Brasil. Expressão e Cultura, Rio de Janeiro. ISBN 8520801005
  • Restall, R., C. Rodner, & M. Lentino. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-7243-9 (vol. 1). ISBN 0-7136-7242-0 (vol. 2).
  • Schuchmann, K. 1999. Campylopterus macrourus (Swallow-tailed Hummingbird). Pp. 554 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, & J. Sargatal. 1999. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-25-3
  • Schulenberg, T., D. Stotz, D. Lane, J. O'Neill, & T. Parker III. 2007. Birds of Peru. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-8673-9
  • Sick, H. 1993. Birds of Brazil - A Natural History. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 0-691-08569-2
  • Sigrist, T. 2006. Birds of Brazil - An Artistic View. ISBN 85-9050-74-1-6
  • Straube, F., A. Urben-Filho, & V. Piacentini. 2006. O Beija-flor-tesoura Eupetomena macroura (Gmelin, 1788) e sua ampliação de distribuição pelo Sul do Brasil. Atualidades Ornitológicas 132.

[edit] External links