HABITAT:
The Spatuletail hummingbird (Loddigesia mirabilis) is one of the rarest
and most endangered birds in the world. The species can be found in just a few
locations in Peru, mainly on the eastern slopes of the Rio Utcubamba Valley.
and most endangered birds in the world. The species can be found in just a few
locations in Peru, mainly on the eastern slopes of the Rio Utcubamba Valley.
DESCRIPTION:
These miniature beauties are about
10-15 cm in length. Their bodies are said to be approximately the size of a ping-pong ball
and their beaks are about the size of a matchstick.
10-15 cm in length. Their bodies are said to be approximately the size of a ping-pong ball
and their beaks are about the size of a matchstick.
Spatuletail hummingbirds have
predominantly green and white feathers. The male has blue crest feathers on the top of his head, an
incandescent turquoise gorget (throat patch) and a black line down the center
of its abdomen.
predominantly green and white feathers. The male has blue crest feathers on the top of his head, an
incandescent turquoise gorget (throat patch) and a black line down the center
of its abdomen.
The male Spatuletail hummingbird has
only four feathers on its tail, two of which extend far beyond the other two,
fanning out into large violet-blue discs called “spatules.” These unique little
feathers can grow to three or four times the length of the bird’s entire body. The males sport a far
more spectacular plumage than their female counterparts. The females have white
gorgets, they lack the defining black line that extends down the male’s abdomen
and their tails are much shorter.
only four feathers on its tail, two of which extend far beyond the other two,
fanning out into large violet-blue discs called “spatules.” These unique little
feathers can grow to three or four times the length of the bird’s entire body. The males sport a far
more spectacular plumage than their female counterparts. The females have white
gorgets, they lack the defining black line that extends down the male’s abdomen
and their tails are much shorter.
BREEDING:
During mating seasons, male
Spatuletail hummingbirds engage in elaborate and competitive mating displays to
capture the attention of their females. They leap from branch to branch,
forward and backwards with high velocity, while making snapping sounds. These
sounds originate from their thin beaks instead of the reverberation of their
tails slapping against one another, as was previous assumed.
Spatuletail hummingbirds engage in elaborate and competitive mating displays to
capture the attention of their females. They leap from branch to branch,
forward and backwards with high velocity, while making snapping sounds. These
sounds originate from their thin beaks instead of the reverberation of their
tails slapping against one another, as was previous assumed.
DIET:
These little romantic
dynamos dine on nectar from a myriad of colorful flowers, trees and shrubs.
They have the ability to lick the nectar up to 13 times per second. Insects,
like small spiders are an important source of protein in their diet because they aid
with the development of their young.
dynamos dine on nectar from a myriad of colorful flowers, trees and shrubs.
They have the ability to lick the nectar up to 13 times per second. Insects,
like small spiders are an important source of protein in their diet because they aid
with the development of their young.
INTERESTING FACTS:
1. Spatuletail hummingbirds are capable of consuming about 10 times
their body weight in food, which is about 14,000 calories per day.
their body weight in food, which is about 14,000 calories per day.
2. With
the exception of insects, hummingbirds
have the highest metabolism rate of any animal on earth (high breathing
rate, high heart rate, high body temperature).
the exception of insects, hummingbirds
have the highest metabolism rate of any animal on earth (high breathing
rate, high heart rate, high body temperature).
3. Hummingbirds have skeletal and flight muscle
adaptations that allow them to rotate their wings almost 180 degrees. Consequently, they are able
to fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, even upside down. They can also
remain stationary while moving their wings in a figure-eight pattern.
adaptations that allow them to rotate their wings almost 180 degrees. Consequently, they are able
to fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, even upside down. They can also
remain stationary while moving their wings in a figure-eight pattern.
4. Each
hummingbird species generate a different humming sound in flight.
hummingbird species generate a different humming sound in flight.
5. A Spatuletail hummingbird’s
heart beats 1,200 times per minute in flight and 200 beats per minute at
rest, making it the fastest beating heart of all animals, except for the pygmy
shrew with a recorded heartbeat of up to 1511 times per minute.
heart beats 1,200 times per minute in flight and 200 beats per minute at
rest, making it the fastest beating heart of all animals, except for the pygmy
shrew with a recorded heartbeat of up to 1511 times per minute.
6. Male Spatuletail hummingbirds are killed by Peruvian locals because their hearts are considered an aphrodisiac.
7. Spatuletail hummingbirds go into a state of torpor (temporary or
semi-hibernation) in order to conserve energy at night. During that time, their body temperature decreases dramatically from its daytime temperature of about 105° (40.5°C) to 19 °C (66
°F). The heart rate slows down from about 200 (average daytime resting heart
rate per minute) to 50 – 180 beats per minute. Hummingbirds may even stop
breathing for periods of time.
semi-hibernation) in order to conserve energy at night. During that time, their body temperature decreases dramatically from its daytime temperature of about 105° (40.5°C) to 19 °C (66
°F). The heart rate slows down from about 200 (average daytime resting heart
rate per minute) to 50 – 180 beats per minute. Hummingbirds may even stop
breathing for periods of time.
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