Violet rapier wings

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Violet rapier wings
Violet rapier wings ♂

Violet rapier wings ♂

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Sailor birds (Apodiformes)
Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Genre : Epee wing ( Campylopterus )
Type : Violet rapier wings
Scientific name
Campylopterus hemileucurus
( Deppe , 1830)

The violet rapier wing or purple rapier wing ( Campylopterus hemileucurus ) is a species of bird from the family of hummingbirds (Trochilidae). The species has a large distribution area in the Central American countries Mexico , Belize , Guatemala , Honduras , El Salvador , Nicaragua , Costa Rica and Panama . The IUCN classifies the stock as “ Least Concern ”.

features

The violet rapier wing reaches a body length of about 14 to 15 centimeters. The weight of the male is 11.5 grams and that of the female 9.5 grams. The underside and throat of the male are dark purple. The white point behind the eyes stands out clearly against the green crown and the purple ear area. The purple nape and upper side turn green-blue on the upper tail-coverts. The tail is black-purple with the outer three control feathers being white. The female's purple throat has a blunt beard around it. It also has a white point behind the eyes and a green crown, but the color in the ear area is duller. The underside is light gray and the lateral flanks are speckled with green. The under tail-coverts are green. The inner control feathers are greenish-black, the outer ones are blackish with white spots. The slightly curved beak and legs are black in both.

distribution and habitat

Distribution of the violet sword wing

The hummingbird usually lives in the undergrowth and edges of mountain forests, especially in side valleys. To search for food, he sometimes leaves the evergreen moist forests and visits inhabited areas, banana plantations or secondary vegetation. It can be found at altitudes between 500 and 2400 meters.

Violet rapier wings on the feed dispenser

behavior

The hummingbird is surprisingly unaggressive and not very dominant for its size. It is not very territorial in flowers. His favorite plants belong heliconias , Bananaren and some bushes in the undergrowth such as the crushing roots belonging Cephaelis . As a nest, he builds a thick goblet out of moss, fine fibers and plants, which he holds together with cobwebs.

Subspecies

So far, two subspecies are known, which differ mainly in their coloration and their range.

  • Campylopterus hemileucurus hemileucurus ( Deppe , 1830) - The nominate form occurs sporadically in southern Mexico. The distribution area extends south to the south of central Nicaragua.
  • Campylopterus hemileucurus mellitus Bangs , 1902. The subspecies is slightly larger than the nominate form. It has much stronger white spots on its tail. The top is colored a little more green. It occurs in Costa Rica and western Panama.
Sitting

Etymology and history of research

Wilhelm Deppe described the violet sword wing under the name Trochilus hemileucurus . The type specimen came from Mexico. Only later was the species assigned to the genus Campylopterus , introduced by William Swainson in 1827 . This word is derived from the Greek »kampylos καμπύλος « for »curved, curved« and »-pteros, pteron πτερο « for »-fluted, wing«. The name "hemileucurus" is "hemi from the Greek words ἡμι- " half of "small" and "leukouros λευκουρος " for "weißschwänzig" composed, with "leukouros" turn off "leukos λευκος " for "white" and " oura ουρα «for» tail «. "Mellitus" is the Latin word for "honey, honey-sweet, lovely". Ferdinand Deppe , the author's brother, or Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein is often incorrectly named as the first author in literature. In their article Clarification and corrections of the dates of issue of some publications containing descriptions of North American birds , Burt Leavelle Monroe, Jr. and Marvin Ralph Browning explain why Wilhelm Deppe is the first author according to the International Rules for Zoological Nomenclature . In their analysis they refer to an article by Erwin Stresemann , who pointed out as early as 1954 that the error was probably due to a confusing reprint in the Journal für Ornithologie from 1863.

literature

  • F. Gary Stiles, Dana Gardner, Alexander F. Skutch: A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica . Comstock Publishing Associates, 1990, p. 213, ISBN 978-0801496004
  • Steve NG Howell, Sophie W. Webb: A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America . Oxford University Press, New York 1995, ISBN 978-0-19-854012-0 .
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Wilhelm Deppe: List of prices for mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and crabs, which were collected by Messrs. Deppe and Schiede in Mexico, and from the authorized representative in Berlin against cash payment in Preuss. Courant to be obtained . Private print Ferdinand Deppe, Berlin 1830 ( reprint online in Journal für Ornithologie (1863) [accessed on August 22, 2014]).
  • Outram Bangs: On a second collection of birds made in Chiriqui, by WW Brown, Jr. In: Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club . tape 3 , 1902, pp. 15–70 ( online [accessed August 22, 2014]).
  • Burt Leavelle Monroe, Jr & Marvin Ralph Browning: Clarification and corrections of the dates of issue of some publications containing descriptions of North American birds . In: Archives of Natural History . tape 18 , no. 3 , 1991, ISSN  0260-9541 , pp. 381-405 , doi : 10.3366 / anh . 1991.18.3.381 .
  • William Swainson: On several Groups and Forms in Ornithology, no hitherto defined . In: The Zoological journal . tape 3 , no. 11 , 1827, pp. 343-363 ( online [accessed August 22, 2014]).
  • Erwin Stresemann: Ferdinand Deepe's travels in Mexico, 1824-1829 . In: The Condor . tape 56 , no. 2 , 1954, p. 86–92 ( online (PDF; 553 kB) [accessed on 23 August 2014]).

Web links

Commons : Violet Rapier Wings  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ IOC World Bird List Hummingbirds
  2. a b Wilhelm Deppe, number 33
  3. Outram Bangs, p. 28
  4. ^ William Swainson, p. 358
  5. James A. Jobling, p. 87
  6. James A. Jobling, p. 189
  7. James A. Jobling p. 249
  8. Burt Leavelle Monroe, Jr. et al., P. 388
  9. Erwin Stresemann, p. 88