Arica elf

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Arica elf
Arica Elf painted by John Gould

Arica Elf painted by John Gould

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Sailor birds (Apodiformes)
Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Genre : Eulidia
Type : Arica elf
Scientific name of the  genus
Eulidia
Mulsant , 1877
Scientific name of the  species
Eulidia yarrellii
( Bourcier , 1847)

The arica elf ( Eulidia yarrellii ) is a small hummingbird that is endemic to northern Chile . This species was named after the British ornithologist William Yarrell (1784-1856).

description

The arica elf reaches a length of eight centimeters. The top is iridescent olive green. The males have a conspicuously marked purple-red throat. The rest of the underside is white in color. The tail is strongly forked. The central control springs are green and short, the longer outer control springs are black. The females are yellow-brown below with a whitish tone. Their tail is not forked and the control feathers have a white tip.

Subspecies

At the moment there are no known subspecies of the Arica elves. It is considered monotypical .

Occurrence

The Arica elf only breeds in two valleys, the Lluta Valley and the Azapa Valley in the Arica Province in the far north of Chile .

Way of life

Distribution area of ​​the Aricaelfe

Their habitat are small fragments of native shrub vegetation in river valleys of the Atacama Desert at an altitude of up to 750 m. It is believed that she undertakes hikes up to an altitude of 2600 m. However, it needs cohesive vegetation along rivers to cope with such movements. It has often been reported to be at the Lantana - and hibiscus staying blossoms in the gardens. But it is quite rare in such habitats. In contrast to the large numbers that could previously be observed on the flowers, the Arica elf now prefers a more solitary way of life. The breeding season is in August and September.

Danger

The stock is on the IUCN (as "critically endangered" Endangered ) estimated. At the beginning of the 20th century, the arica elf was still very common and widespread. With the destruction of their habitats , their endemic food plants are declining more and more. Since the hummingbirds have adapted less to the new plants than initially assumed, the population is on the decline. Today it is between 2,500 and 10,000 copies.

Etymology and history of research

Jules Bourcier described the Arica elf under the name Trochilus Yarrellii . Allegedly the type specimen came from Montevideo , but this was probably an error. Only later did Étienne Mulsant propose the species of the new genus Eulidia . The origin of the word "Eulidia" is not clear to one, but was probably dedicated to a woman named Eulidie, since Mulsant used the common name Eulidie d'Yarrell.

literature

  • J. Del Hoyo, A. Elliot, J. Sargatal (Eds.): Handbook of the Birds of the World . Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. 1999. ISBN 8487334253
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Jules Bourcier: Description de quinze espèces Trochilidées du cabinet de M. Loggiges . In: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . tape 15 , no. 171 , 1847, pp. 42-47 ( online [accessed March 29, 2014]).
  • Étienne Mulsant, Édouard Verreaux: Histoire naturelle des oiseaux-mouches ou colibris constituant la famille des trochilidés . tape 4 . Deyrolle, Paris 1877 ( online [accessed March 29, 2014]).

Web links

Commons : Aricaelfe ( Eulidia yarrellii )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 412
  2. ^ IOC World Bird List Hummingbirds
  3. ↑ Eulidia yarrellii in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jules Bourcier, p. 45
  5. ↑ Jules Bourcier, p. 46
  6. ↑ Étienne Mulsant, pp. 114–116