Dwarf fairies

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Dwarf fairies
Dwarf fairies

Dwarf fairies

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Sailor birds (Apodiformes)
Family : Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Genre : Mellisuga
Type : Dwarf fairies
Scientific name
Mellisuga minima
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The dwarf fairy ( Mellisuga minima ) is a species of bird from the hummingbird family (Trochilidae). The range of the species includes parts of Jamaica , Hispaniola and islands close to Hispaniola. The IUCN assesses the population as Least Concern .

features

The dwarfs reach a body length of about 6 to 7 cm with a weight of the males of 2.7 g and the females of 3.6 g. The tiny hummingbird has a matt metallic bronze-green top and a dull white underside. The beak looks dull black. The males have a slightly inwardly curved tail, while the tail of the females is slightly larger and rounded. The outermost control springs are largely spotted white. Young birds are similar to females.

Behavior and nutrition

Their nectar they get from the flowers of plants of the genera Pachystachys , Anacardium , silk plants , Bourreria , Kordien , Lemaireocereus , Opuntia , Bauhinia , caesalpinia , Delonix , tamarind tree , White Mangrove , ageratum , blueberries , Croton , Plectranthus , Cuphea , Mallow , Miconia , Acacia , Calliandra , Crotalaria , plumbago , Securidaca , Cephaelis , Hamelia , Ixora , Morinda , Russelia , Dunalia , Holmskioldia , lantana , Nyctanthes and Stachytarpheta .

Vocalizations

The singing they utter from free-standing seating is quite loud and consists of a series of high-pitched metallic beeps. They also sing during their courtship flights, which sounds much less metallic. Here the couples climb to a considerable height, occasionally grabbing each other with their legs before falling to the ground. The throaty humming sounds sound like bssr or like a soft chirping rattle . During the hunt, the sounds sound bright and their chirping decreases. In flight, the shaking wing beat sounds like a bee.

Reproduction

The breeding season lasts all year round, but the dwarfs breed mainly between December and May on Hispaniola and between December and February on Jamaica. They usually build the nest close to the ground in bushes and attach it to the side of the branches. Nests are usually found at a height of 0.3 to 3 meters above the ground. The goblet-like nest consists of cotton fibers, lichen, moss, bark and cobwebs. The clutch consists of two eggs, one of which weighs 0.4 g. The breeding season is 12 days and only the female breeds. A newly hatched weighs only 0.3 g. The nestlings fledge at around 19 to 22 days.

migration

About the migratory behavior, there is little reliable data, but they seem to Hispaniola as stroke bird draw temporarily between different altitudes. But it is very likely a resident bird . In Puerto Rico, one was already Irrgast discovered.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area of ​​the dwarf fairies

The dwarf fairy lives in open deciduous and pine forests, bushes, shady coffee plantations, hedges and gardens. They are not found in dense moist forests. In Hispaniola there have been reports of occurrences at altitudes between sea level and 1,600 meters.

Subspecies

There are two known subspecies:

Ornismia Catharinæ Sallé , 1849 is now considered a synonym for M. m. vielloti .

Etymology and history of research

Originally, Carl von Linné described the dwarfs under the name Trochilus minimus . Linné stated America as the collection location. In 1760 Mathurin-Jacques Brisson introduced the new generic name Mellisuga . This name is derived from the Latin "mel, mellis" for "honey" and "sugere" for "suck". The first part can also be derived from the Greek "meli, melitos μελι, μελιτος " for "honey". Minima is derived from the Latin »minimus« for »smallest, lowest«. Vielloti is dedicated to Louis Pierre Vieillot , who described and illustrated the hummingbird under the name l'Oiseau-Mouche à ventre gris . Catharinæ is Catherine Sallé born. Caillar, dedicated to Auguste Sallé's mother.

literature

  • Peng Chai, Guy Maxwell Kirwan, Peter Boesman in: Josep del Hoyo , Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal, David Andrew Christie , Eduardo de Juana: Vervain Hummingbird (Mellisuga minima). 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 .
  • Carl von Linné: Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis . 10th edition. tape 1 . Imprensis Direct Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm 1758 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • George Shaw: General zoology, or Systematic natural history . tape 8 . Thomas Davison, London 1812 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Mathurin-Jacques Brisson: Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés: a laquelle on a joint une description exacte de chaque espèce, avec les citations des auteurs qui en ont traité, les noms quils leur ont donnés, ceux que leur ont donnés les différentes nations, & les noms vulgaires . tape 1 . Ad Ripam Augustinorum, apud Cl. Joannem-Baptistam Bauche, bibliopolam, ad Insigne S. Genovesae, & S. Joannis in Deserto, Paris 1760 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Mathurin-Jacques Brisson: Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés: a laquelle on a joint une description exacte de chaque espèce, avec les citations des auteurs qui en ont traité, les noms quils leur ont donnés, ceux que leur ont donnés les différentes nations, & les noms vulgaires . tape 3 . Ad Ripam Augustinorum, apud Cl. Joannem-Baptistam Bauche, bibliopolam, ad Insigne S. Genovesae, & S. Joannis in Deserto, Paris 1760 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Jean Baptiste Audebert, Louis Pierre Vieillot: Oiseaux dorés ou à reflets métalliques: Histoire Naturelle et générale des Colibris, Oiseaux-Mouches, Jacamars et Promerops . tape 1 . Chez Desray, libraire, Paris 1802 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).
  • Auguste Sallé: MA Salé nous envoie la note suivante de Santo-Domingo, en nous priant de la publier le plus tôt possible . In: Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée (=  2 ). tape 1 , 1849, p. 498-499 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).

Web links

Commons : Zwergelfe ( Mellisuga minima )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Peng Chai u. a.
  2. ^ IOC World Bird List Hummingbirds
  3. ↑ a b Carl von Linné, p. 121.
  4. ↑ a b George Shaw, p. 347
  5. ↑ a b Auguste Sallé, p. 498.
  6. ^ Mathurin-Jacques Brisson, Volume 1, p. 40 & Volume 3, p. 694.
  7. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 249
  8. ↑ James A. Jobling, p. 256
  9. ^ Jean Baptiste Audebert et al. a., Tafe 53, pp. 119-122.