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The '''hillstars''' are several species of [[hummingbird]]s from the genus '''''Oreotrochilus''''' (the single species from the genus ''[[Urochroa]]'' is also called hillstar). These highly [[Territory (animal)|territorial]] hummingbirds are found in temperate and [[Alpine climate|alpine]] grassland, scrub and woodland at altitudes of {{convert|1200|to|5200|m|ft}} in the [[Andes]] of [[South America]], with the various species having largely [[allopatric]] distributions.
The '''hillstars''' are [[hummingbird]]s of the genus '''''Oreotrochilus'''''. They are native to the [[Andes]] in [[South America]].

The [[White-tailed Hillstar]] (''Urochroa bougueri'') is not closely related.


==Description==
==Description==
They have a total length of approximately {{convert|13|cm|in}} and a fairly long, slightly decurved black bill. They are [[sexually dimorphic]], with the male having an [[iridescent]] green throat (bluish-purple in the Ecuadorian Hillstar), dull greenish upperparts, black central underparts (brown in the Andean Hillstar), paler flanks, and a dark tail with a contrasting white pattern (the pattern is cinnamon in the Wedge-tailed Hillstar, while the tail is entirely dark in the Black-breasted Hillstar). The females are duller, have a whitish throat densely spotted with green, white, [[Buff (colour)|buff]] or cinnamon underparts, and a dark tail with a contrasting white pattern.
The birds are approximately {{convert|13|cm|in}} in length with fairly long, slightly decurved black bills. They are [[sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]]. The male usually has an [[iridescence|iridescent]] green throat, or bluish-purple in the Ecuadorian Hillstar, with dull greenish upperparts and pale flanks. The central underparts are usually black, but are brown in the Andean Hillstar. The tail is usually dark with a contrasting white pattern; the pattern is cinnamon in the Wedge-tailed Hillstar, and the tail is entirely dark in the Black-breasted Hillstar. The female is duller, with a whitish throat densely spotted with green, white, [[Buff (colour)|buff]], or cinnamon underparts, and a dark tail with a white pattern.
==Biology==
These highly [[Territory (animal)|territorial]] hummingbirds are found in temperate and [[Alpine climate|alpine]] grassland, scrub and woodland at altitudes of {{convert|1200|to|5200|m|ft}}. The Ecuadorian Hillstar has been observed nesting at high altitudes on the cliffs of [[Cotopaxi]].<ref>Smith, G. T. (1969). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1969.tb01600.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false A high altitude hummingbird on the volcano Cotopaxi.] ''Ibis'' 111(1), 17-22.</ref> This species is known to [[bird colony|nest colonially]].<ref>Solano-Ugalde, A. (2008). [http://www.ornitologiacolombiana.org/oc6/Solano.pdf High in the Andes: Colonial nesting of Ecuadorean Hillstar (''Oreotrochilus chimborazo'': Trochilidae) under a bridge.] ''Ornitología Colombiana'' 6, 86-88.</ref>

Many hillstars feed mainly on [[shrub]]s of the Andean plant genus ''[[Chuquiraga]]'', and some species may be limited to them.<ref>Bleiweiss, R. (1982). [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4085989?uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102607922881 The northern limit of the hummingbird genus ''Oreotrochilus'' in South America.] ''The Auk'' 99(2), 376-78.</ref>


The genus has undergone [[allopatric speciation]].
==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==
There are six taxa in the genus.<ref name=blei>Bleiweiss, R., et al. (1997). [http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/14/3/325.full.pdf DNA hybridization evidence for the principal lineages of hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae).] ''Molecular Biology and Evolution'' 14(3), 325-43.</ref>
The Green-headed Hillstar is usually treated as a [[subspecies]] of the Andean Hillstar. Formerly, the Ecuadorian and White-sided Hillstars were also treated as subspecies of the Andean Hillstar.


* [[Ecuadorian Hillstar]] (''Oreotrochilus chimborazo'')
* [[Ecuadorian Hillstar]] (''Oreotrochilus chimborazo'')
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* [[Wedge-tailed Hillstar]] (''Oreotrochilus adela'')
* [[Wedge-tailed Hillstar]] (''Oreotrochilus adela'')


The Ecuadorian Hillstar may be treated as a subspecies of the Andean Hillstar.<ref name=blei/>
==References==
==References==
{{commonscat|Oreotrochilus}}
⚫
* Fjeldså, J., & I. Heynen (1999). Genus Oreotrochilus. pp.&nbsp;623–624 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, & J. Sargatal. eds. (1999). ''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]].'' Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-25-3
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
⚫
* Fjeldså, J. and I. Heynen (1999). Genus ''Oreotrochilus''. pp.&nbsp;623–24 In: del Hoyo, J., et al. (eds.) ''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]].'' Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 1999. ISBN 84-87334-25-3


[[Category:Hummingbirds]]
[[Category:Hummingbirds]]

Revision as of 04:49, 12 September 2013

Hillstar
female Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Apodiformes
Family:
Trochilidae
Genus:
Oreotrochilus

Gould, 1847

The hillstars are hummingbirds of the genus Oreotrochilus. They are native to the Andes in South America.

The White-tailed Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) is not closely related.

Description

The birds are approximately 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length with fairly long, slightly decurved black bills. They are sexually dimorphic. The male usually has an iridescent green throat, or bluish-purple in the Ecuadorian Hillstar, with dull greenish upperparts and pale flanks. The central underparts are usually black, but are brown in the Andean Hillstar. The tail is usually dark with a contrasting white pattern; the pattern is cinnamon in the Wedge-tailed Hillstar, and the tail is entirely dark in the Black-breasted Hillstar. The female is duller, with a whitish throat densely spotted with green, white, buff, or cinnamon underparts, and a dark tail with a white pattern.

Biology

These highly territorial hummingbirds are found in temperate and alpine grassland, scrub and woodland at altitudes of 1,200 to 5,200 metres (3,900 to 17,100 ft). The Ecuadorian Hillstar has been observed nesting at high altitudes on the cliffs of Cotopaxi.[1] This species is known to nest colonially.[2]

Many hillstars feed mainly on shrubs of the Andean plant genus Chuquiraga, and some species may be limited to them.[3]

The genus has undergone allopatric speciation.

Taxonomy

There are six taxa in the genus.[4]

The Ecuadorian Hillstar may be treated as a subspecies of the Andean Hillstar.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oreotrochilus.
  1. ^ Smith, G. T. (1969). A high altitude hummingbird on the volcano Cotopaxi. Ibis 111(1), 17-22.
  2. ^ Solano-Ugalde, A. (2008). High in the Andes: Colonial nesting of Ecuadorean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo: Trochilidae) under a bridge. Ornitología Colombiana 6, 86-88.
  3. ^ Bleiweiss, R. (1982). The northern limit of the hummingbird genus Oreotrochilus in South America. The Auk 99(2), 376-78.
  4. ^ a b Bleiweiss, R., et al. (1997). DNA hybridization evidence for the principal lineages of hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae). Molecular Biology and Evolution 14(3), 325-43.

Further reading

  • Fjeldså, J. and I. Heynen (1999). Genus Oreotrochilus. pp. 623–24 In: del Hoyo, J., et al. (eds.) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 1999. ISBN 84-87334-25-3
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