Star elf

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Star elf
Star Elf (Selasphorus calliope), female at the nest

Star Elf ( Selasphorus calliope ), female at the nest

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Sailor birds (Apodiformes)
Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Genre : Northern Elves ( Selasphorus )
Type : Star elf
Scientific name
Selasphorus calliope
( Gould , 1847)

The star elf ( Selasphorus calliope ) is a species of bird in the hummingbird family (Trochilidae). It breeds in summer in Canada in British Columbia , and the northwestern United States , Washington , Oregon , Idaho , western Montana , western Utah, and northern and eastern California . The bird moves to Mexico to winter .

Appearance

The bird weighs 2 to 3 grams, becomes around 9 centimeters long and has a wingspan of 11 centimeters. The hummingbird is the smallest known species of bird in North America. The males can be recognized by their red throats, green flanks, white belly and dark tail. In the females , the tail is reddish brown and the colored throat is missing. The bird's tail is noticeably short.

food

The diet of the hummingbird consists mainly of flower nectar , pollen and insects .

Reproduction

male

After courtship and mating, a nest is usually hidden in a tree . The female usually lays two eggs, which are incubated between 14 and 16 days. After hatching, the young are fed for around 21 to 28 days .

Enemies

The natural enemies of the hummingbird are snakes , cats and birds of prey .

Subspecies

Distribution area of ​​the steel green star elf

So far no subspecies are known. The subspecies Selasphorus calliope lowei ( Griscom , 1934), which is occasionally found in the literature, is considered a junior synonym for the nominate form .

Etymology and history of research

John Gould described the star elf under the name Trochilus (Calothorax) Calliope . The type specimen was collected in Mexico. Gould later added it to the new genus Stellula , a monotypical genus under which it was listed for a very long time. The North American Classification Committee finally added them to the genus Selasphorus in 2012 .

The word Selasphorus is derived from the Latin words "selas σέλας " for "shine, light, flame" and "-phoros, pherō πηοροσ " for "supporting, bearer".

The word "calliope" comes from Greek mythology. Calliope was a muse with a fine voice and one of the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne .

literature

  • Dieter Poley: Hummingbirds: Trochilidae . Westarp Sciences, Hohenwarsleben 1994, ISBN 978-3-89432-409-4 .
  • Josef H. Reichholf, Scott Weidensaul: Hummingbirds. Flying diamonds . Karl Müller Verlag, Cologne-Bocklemünd / Mengenich 1990.
  • John Gould: Drafts for an arrangement of the Trochilidae, with descriptions of some new species . In: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . tape 15 , no. 168 , 1847, pp. 7–11 ( online [accessed February 13, 2014]).
  • John Gould: An introduction to the Trochilidæ: or family of humming-birds . Taylor and Francis, London 1861 ( online [accessed February 13, 2014]).
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Ludlow Griscom: The Ornithology of Guerrero, Mexico . In: Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College . tape 75 , no. 10 , 1934, pp. 367-422 ( online [accessed January 17, 2012]).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ National Geographic Society: Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Second Edition . National Geographic, ISBN 0-87044-692-4
  2. ^ Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. ^ IOC World Bird List Hummingbirds
  4. ^ Ludlow Griscom, p. 380
  5. ^ John Gould (1847), p. 11
  6. ^ John Gould (1861), p. 90
  7. ^ North American Classification Committee Proposal 2011-A
  8. ↑ James A. Jobling p. 352
  9. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 85

Web links

Commons : Selasphorus calliope  - Collection of images, videos and audio files