Santa Marta Elf
| Santa Marta Elf | ||||||||||||
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| Chaetocercus astreans | ||||||||||||
| ( Bangs , 1899) |
The Santa Marta elf ( Chaetocercus astreans ) or star elf is a species of bird in the hummingbird family (Trochilidae) that is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia . The IUCN classifies the population as Least Concern . The species is considered to be monotypical .
features
The Santa Marta elf reaches a body length of approx. 7 cm. The male has a straight black beak. The head shimmers green, the rest of the top is bright dark blue. The ring collar is reddish, a color that extends into the ear covers. The chest is gray, there is a white spot on the flanks. The female is bronze-green on the upper side, the underside is cinnamon-colored to fox-red. The cinnamon-colored rounded tail has a black subterminal band. Young animals resemble the females.
Behavior and nutrition
The Santa Marta elf probably gets its nectar from plants similar to its conspecifics such as flowering Inga or Streptosolen jamesonii . It also feeds on insects. Like the white-bellied elf ( Chaetocercus mulsant ), it subordinated itself to other hummingbirds. With its slow bumblebee-like flight, it often goes unnoticed by territory owners . Their own feeding territories are not part of their feeding strategy.
Reproduction
The reproductive biology of the Santa Marta elf has not yet been researched.
Vocalizations
The Santa Marta elf singing is likely a regularly repeated single balanced squeaky tone. The call during food intake and hovering flight consists of a series of single liquid tsit - or double ti-tsit - sounds. The flapping of the wings sounds like a bee in the soaring flight.
distribution and habitat
The Santa Marta elf prefers the edges of mountain forests, groves and shady coffee plantations. Occasionally she is also out and about in Subpáramo . It is common at altitudes between 850 and 2000 meters.
migration
The Santa Marta Elf is likely a seasonal line bird that migrates at high altitude.
Etymology and history of research
The first description of the Santa Marta-Elfe was made in 1899 by Outram Bangs under the scientific name Acestrura astreans . The type specimen was collected by Wilmot Wood Brown Jr. (1868–1953) near San Sebastian de Rábago . In 1855, George Robert Gray introduced the new genus Chaetocercus . This name is made up of the Greek words "chaitē χαιτη " for "long, flying hair" and "kerkos κερκος " for "tail". The species name »astreans« means »shiny like a star«, derived from the Latin »astrum, astri« or from the Greek »astron αστρον « for »star«.
literature
- Thomas Züchner, Peter Boesman in: Josep del Hoyo , Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal , David Andrew Christie, Eduardo de Juana: Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans) In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive . Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
- James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
- Outram Bangs: On a small collection of birds from San Sebastian, Colombia . In: Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club . tape 1 , 1899, p. 75-88 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
- George Robert Gray: Catalog of the genera and subgenera of birds contained in the British Museum . Printed by order of the Trustees, London 1855 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
- Arthur Lennox Butler: Mr. AL Butler exhibited some Humming birds of special interest to Trochilidistrs, and made the following remarks . In: Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club . tape 48 , no. 317 , 1927, pp. 7-11 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
- Ralf Strewe, Cristobal Navarro: Santa Marta Elfe . In: Cotinga . tape 22 , 2004, p. 47–55 ( neotropicalbirdclub.org [PDF; 132 kB ]).
Web links
- Chaetocercus astreans inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- BirdLife International: Species Factsheet - Santa Marta Woodstar ( Chaetocercus astreans ) . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans) in the Internet Bird Collection
- Santa Marta Elf ( Chaetocercus astreans ) at Avibase; accessed on June 6, 2019.
- Chaetocercus astreans in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- xeno-canto: sound recordings - Santa Marta elf ( Chaetocercus astreans )
- Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans) in the Encyclopedia of Life . Retrieved June 6, 2019.
Individual evidence
Remarks
- ↑ Gray proposed the red flag elf ( Chaetocercus jourdanii ( Bourcier , 1839)) to the species.