| Sapphire-throated hummingbird | |
|---|---|
_male.jpg) | |
| Male, Panama | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Chrysuronia |
| Species: | C. coeruleogularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysuronia coeruleogularis (Gould, 1851) | |
 | |
| Range ofC. coeruleogularis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
_male_in_flight.jpg)
Thesapphire-throated hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis) is a shiny metallic-greenhummingbird found inPanama,Colombia, and more recentlyCosta Rica.[3] The sapphire-throated hummingbird is separated into threesubspecies;Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis,Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina, andChrysuronia coeruleogularis conifis.[4][5]
Measuring 9 cm (3.5 in), this hummingbird sports a distinctively forked tail, which helps to distinguish it from other similarly sized and colored hummingbirds. The male is metallic green overall, with a violet-blue throat and dark tail. The female has entirely white underparts from throat to vent and distinctive green spots along the sides of the breast.[6]
Due to its large home range and adaptability to habitat change, the sapphire-throated hummingbird is listed as a species ofleast concern by theIUCN Red List. It prefers to live inmangroves, scrubs, and light forests, however is able to adapt if need be.[7][1]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird is part of the orderApodiformes, which includes thehummingbirds,swifts andtreeswifts. They are part of the familyTrochilidae, also known as the hummingbirds, which are distinguished by their small size, high metabolism and extremely rapid wing-flapping. Although part of the same genus, the sapphire-throated hummingbird is taxonomically closer related to theblue-headed sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) than the shining-green hummingbird.[8] Additionally, the sapphire-throated hummingbird acts as anoutgroup for some members of the genusAmazilia, such as thewhite-chested emerald (Amazilia brevirostris) and theplain-bellied emerald (Amazilia leucogaster).[8]
After first beingdescribed in 1851, it was later discovered that there are two other subspecies of the hummingbird based on a difference of distribution and coloration, with the nominate subspecies beingChrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis.[4][7] In 1856, the second subspecies was discovered further north and namedChrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina. Most recently in 1932, the third and final subspecies was discovered further east and namedChrysuronia coeruleogularis conifis.[4][5]
This species was formerly placed in the genusLepidopyga. Amolecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found thatLepidopyga waspolyphyletic.[9] In the revised classification to createmonophyletic genera, the sapphire-throated hummingbird was moved toChrysuronia.[10][11]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird has a full shiny metallic-greenplumage, except for its darker tail and wings. The male has a broad, glistening blue-patched throat, whereas the female has awhite-patched throat. The female also has distinct green spots along the sides of its breast.[6] The tail is deeply notched and tipped with black coloration. Thenominate subspeciesLepidopyga coeruleogularis coeruleogularis has a darker throat patch, whereas the subspecies
Chrysuronia coeruleogularis conifis has a more turquoise tone, and the subspecies Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina has a lighter-blue tone. Small in size, the hummingbird measures about 8.5–9.5 cm (3.3–3.7 in) centimeters in length and 4–4.5 grams (0.14–0.16 oz) in weight.[7] The males have a straight, shortbill with themaxilla colored black and themandible colored a more pinkish tone and tipped with black.[7]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird is often mistaken for the other members of its genus which includes thesapphire-bellied hummingbird (Chrysuronia lilliae) and theshining-green hummingbird(Chrysuronia goudoti). Unlike the sapphire-throated hummingbird, the male sapphire-bellied hummingbird has a darker shiny blue coloration on its throat which covers its entireventral-side with the exception of the white undertail.[7] The shining-green hummingbird differs in that it has very little to no blue plumage in comparison to the other twoLepidopyga species.[7]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird has a large range, with an estimated distribution size of 88,900 km2.[1] Although the global population size has not been calculated, it is described to be patchy.[1] Overall, the hummingbird is found throughoutPanama,Colombia and most recentlyCosta Rica. The nominate subspeciesChrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis can be found in Pacific western Panama, ranging fromChiriquí toCanal Zone.[7][12] The subspeciesChrysuronia coeruleogularis confinis is more specifically found on the Caribbean slope in eastern Panama and north-west Columbia.[7][12] Whereas the subspeciesChrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina is more specifically found in the northern parts of Colombia, from northChocó throughCiénaga Grande de Santa Marta.[4][7][12]
In 2008, a male species of sapphire-throated hummingbird was discovered in Costa Rica as far as 35 kilometers north of the Panamanian border. This suggests that the hummingbirds are slowlydispersing northwards and establishing new territories.[3] However, some unconfirmed records from 1962 in Costa Rica are thought to have been a mislabeled specimen, which was later found to be a sapphire-throated hummingbird.[13]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird is most commonly found in coastal forests, occupying secondaryforests, scrubby clearings and less frequently mangrove patches.[3][12][14] They prefer light forests and forest edges over dense forests. The hummingbirds have been found using modified habitats, such as protected areas like theTayrona National Natural Park in Colombia.[7] They can reach elevations of up to 100m abovemean sea level.[4]
Since it is a Central and SouthAmerican species, the sapphire-throated hummingbird does not undergo hugemigrations like other northern hummingbirds such as theruby-throated hummingbird.[4] However, they may undergo local altitude dispersal due to habitat change.[4] They live a solitary life in which they neither live nor migrate in flocks.[12] During flight, hummingbirds have one of the highestmetabolism and therefore require to eat more than their own weight innectar each day to avoid starvation.[15] Unlike most birds, the hummingbirds flap their wings upwards instead of downwards by inverting their wings, and therefore having a similar mechanism to insects.[16]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird ispolygamous, and therefore remainssolitary until the need to reproduce. Typically, only themales exhibitpromiscuity, however sometimes females may also mate with several males. In order to gain the female's approval, the male performs acourtship display by flying in a u-shaped pattern for the female. Once the female accepts the male, andcopulation is complete, the male immediately separates and leaves the female.[12] The males are only involved in mating and neglect to contribute to choosing nest location, building the nest, or raising the young.[12]
After copulation, the female hummingbird chooses a location for a nest, typically in a shrub, bush or tree. Placed on a low and thin forked branch, she makes the nest in the shape of a cup with plant fibers woven together and covered in moss as a form ofcamouflage. In an attempt to add elasticity and strength for the nesting space, the female strategically adds soft plant fibers, animal hair anddown feather into the nest, and secures it with spider webs and other sticky materials.[12] Overall the nest is small and deep.[7]
On average, due to its small body, the sapphire-throated hummingbird has a clutch size of only two eggs.[12] After an incubation period of 15 to 16 days, the young hatch with no down feather and no ability to fly or see.[7][12] Overall, thefledging period lasts 19 to 22 days.[7] Since the males do not aid with raising the young, the females are left to protect and feed the younglings via regurgitated food. In order to feed the chicks, the female uses her long bill to push the regurgitated insects directly into the chicks' throat.[12]
Generally, the sapphire-throated hummingbirdfeeds on nectar and insects. Being a solitary feeder, during peak flowering season they may sometimes build small home-structures around flowering trees in an effort to defend their food resources. During the rest of the year they mainly feed on low-growing flowers.[7]
The sapphire-throated hummingbird typically feeds on the nectar of brightly colored flowers of trees and shrubs. In order to compensate for their high metabolism, they prefer flowers with high sugar content such as those from the familiesFabaceae,Rubiaceae, andMyrtaceae.[3][4][12]
They feed on tubular-shaped flowers by extending their long tongue to retrieve the nectar, while simultaneously hovering or perching on the flower or branch.[12] In the process, the hummingbirds may frequently become covered in pollen and in turn contribute to thepollination of plants, creating asymbiosis relationship between the plant and bird.[12]
In more human-established areas, the sapphire-throated hummingbird may also retrieve their nectar from hummingbird feeders places by locals.[12]
Although the main food resource for the sapphire-throated hummingbird is nectar, it does not supply enough protein for the bird, especially during breeding season and the juvenile's fledging period.[12] Therefore, the hummingbird also feeds onarthropods, such as flies and spiders.
Although not a song-call, hummingbirds can often be distinguished by their buzzing sound made from rapid wing-flapping. Like most birds, the sapphire-throated hummingbirds has many calls, but their most common song is a high-pitched rattle sounding like "wi-didididididididididi".[4]
The sapphire-throated hummingbirdis currently listed as a species of least concern due to its extent of occurrence being greater than 20,000 km2, despite population declines, habitat destruction and habitat alteration.[1] Although manyof their habitats have been destroyed in the last decades for agriculture and other purposes, the sapphire-throated hummingbird can easily adapt to a new habitat if need be, and are therefore dispersing farther north with no harm to their populations.[3]
