Monochrome hooked beak

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Monochrome hooked beak
Single-color hook beak ♂

Single-color hook beak ♂

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Tangaren (Thraupidae)
Subfamily : Diglossinae
Genre : Hooked beaks ( diglossa )
Type : Monochrome hooked beak
Scientific name
Diglossa plumbea
Cabanis , 1861

The monochrome hooked beak ( Diglossa plumbea ) is a bird art from the family of tanagers (Thraupidae). The distribution area includes the Central American countries Costa Rica and Panama . The IUCN assesses the population as not endangered ("least concern").

features

The monochrome hookbeak reaches a body length of about 10 centimeters and a weight of about 9 grams. The upper beak has a hook-shaped tip that is bent downwards. The upper side of the male is dark gray to bluish gray, with the blackish tail and wings having dark gray edges. The throat is lead gray, the back of the breast becomes slate gray. In contrast to the male, the female is brown-olive on the upper side. The large arm covers and the umbrella feathers are framed by a dull olive-brown yellow. The color of the body also changes into a dull olive-brown yellow on the belly. The feathers around the cloaca have a cinnamon tint.

Nest in the mountains of Chiriqui, Panama

behavior

One-color hookbills are usually seen alone or in pairs, visiting the flowers of epiphytes and bushes. The upper part of the beak hooks onto the tubular corolla, the lower part finally pierces it. With their tongue they then skillfully suck the nectar through the resulting hole. They also collect insects from the leaves or hunt them in flight. When attacked by hummingbirds, they retreat into the thicket.

The nest is a solid, stable bowl made of moss, pieces of leaf and coarse and fine fibers. In this they lay 2 light blue eggs, which are lightly brown speckled. Usually they breed from August to December, in rare cases also in March.

distribution and habitat

The birds are found in the treetops and on the edges of mountain forests, preferring sunny, open clearings without trees, but with dense undergrowth. They can be found at altitudes between 1200 and 1900 meters.

Subspecies

Monochrome hookbeak, panama pitpit & sugar bird painted by John Gerrard Keulemans

Two subspecies are described, which differ in their coloring and their area of ​​distribution:

  • Diglossa plumbea plumbea Cabanis , 1861 - The nominate form is present in the Cordillera de Guanacaste , Cordillera de Tilaran and in the central part of the Cordillera de Talamanca .
  • Diglossa plumbea veraguensis Griscom , 1927 The male of this subspecies is distinguished by the slate-gray area between the head and neck, which contrasts with the rest of the body in a dark gray to blue-gray color. The differences in the female are clearer, as both the upper and lower sides appear gray-olive, with the upper side having a slight bluish cast. This subspecies is found on the slopes of the Pacific in western Panama.

Etymology and history of research

The first description of the single-color hook beak was made in 1861 by John Gould under the scientific name Diglossa plumbea . The type specimens came from Costa Rica and were collected by Alexander von Frantzius . Already in 1832 Johann Georg Wagler introduced the genus Diglossa for the cinnamon belly hooked beak ( Diglossa baritula Wagler , 1832). This name is made up of "di-, dis, duo δι-, δις, δυο " for "double, twofold, two" and "glōssa γλωσσα " for "tongue" The species name "plumbea" derives from the Latin "plumbeus, plumbum" for "lead, lead" from. "Veraguensis" refers to the Panamanian province of Veraguas , where this subspecies is native.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Frank Gary Stiles u. a., p. 454.
  2. ↑ a b Jean Louis Cabanis, p. 411.
  3. ↑ a b c Ludlow Griscom, p. 16.
  4. ^ Johann Georg Wagler, p. 280.
  5. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 136.
  6. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 310.