| Blue-mantled thornbill | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Chalcostigma |
| Species: | C. stanleyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Chalcostigma stanleyi (Bourcier, 1851) | |
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The blue-mantled thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. [3] [4]
The taxonomy of genus Chalcostigma is unsettled. The South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society is considering a proposal to merge the genus into Oxypogon . [5] The blue-mantled thornbill has three recognized subspecies, the nominate C. s. stanleyi (Bourcier, 1851), C. s. versigulare (Zimmer, 1924), and C. s. vulcani (Gould, 1852). [3]
The blue-mantled thornbill is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long; males weigh about 6.2 g (0.22 oz) and females 4.5 g (0.16 oz). Both sexes have a short straight black bill and a small white spot behind the eye. Adult males of the nominate subspecies are generally dark sooty brown. The crown and nape have a bronzy green sheen, the back reflects violet-blue, and the uppertail coverts are turquoise. The forked tail is steel blue. They have a narrow gorget that is emerald green on the chin and transitions through pink to purple-violet or violet-blue at the lower edge. Adult females are similar, but the gorget has only the green under the chin and the outer tail feathers have pale tips. Juveniles resemble the adult female. [6]
Subspecies C. s. versigulare's entire upperparts (not just the back) reflect deep violet-blue, and the lower pink to violet of the gorget is narrower than in the nominate. C. s. vulcani is similar to versigulare but the lower part of its gorget becomes blue-gray or gray-violet. [6]
The nominate subspecies of blue-mantled thornbill is found on both slopes of the Andes of Ecuador between the departments of Carchi and Azauy. C. s. versigulare is found on the Peruvian Andes' east slope from east of the Marañón River south to the Cordillera Carpish in Huánuco Department and also in the Cordillera Blanca on the west slope. C. s. vulcani is found on the eastern Andean slope from southern Peru to Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. [6]
The blue-mantled thornbill inhabits steep, rocky slopes with somewhat humid páramo grasslands and jalca vegetation. Within those landscapes it favors patches of Polylepis and Gynoxys woodland. In elevation it generally occurs between 3,000 and 4,200 m (9,800 and 13,800 ft) but has been recorded as low as 2,200 m (7,200 ft) and as high as 4,500 m (14,800 ft). [6] [7]
The blue-mantled thornbill is known to temporarily move to lower elevations during periods of harsh weather, so it is hypothesized to also make seasonal elevational migration. [6]
The blue-mantled thornbill feeds on the nectar of small flowers such as Berberis , Gaultheria , Ribes , and Gentiana . It defends feeding territories. It has been observed gleaning tiny insects from the underside of Gynoxys leaves while clinging to them. It also picks insects from matted grass or rocks by hopping among them, and occasionally sallies to take insects on the wing. [6]
The blue-mantled thornbill is believed to breed during the rainy season. As is typical of hummingbirds, the female alone incubates the two white eggs. Nothing else has been documented about its breeding phenology. [6]
The blue-mantled thornbill's calls have been described as "a descending squeaky twitter followed by a mellower upslurred note" and "a downslurred 'tseetsitsitsitsitr-whee-tsew' [with] variations." [6]
The IUCN has assessed the blue-mantled thornbill as being of Least Concern. It has a large range but its population size is unknown and believed to be decreasing. [1] Though it is generally fairly common, it is locally under threat by destruction of Polylepis woodlands and conversion of natural grasslands to pasture. [6]
The violet-tailed sylph is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
The rainbow-bearded thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The bronze-tailed thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The olivaceous thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The rufous-capped thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The royal sunangel is an endangered species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The purple-throated sunangel is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The violet-fronted brilliant is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The green-tailed trainbearer is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Venezuela.
The scaled metaltail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The violet-throated metaltail, locally called metalura gorjivioleta, is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Ecuador.
The black metaltail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.
The coppery metaltail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.
The bearded mountaineer or eastern mountaineer is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.
The Andean hillstar is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
The purple-backed thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Venezuelan sylph is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is restricted to two small mountain ranges in northeastern Venezuela.
The white-bearded helmetcrest is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to northwestern Venezuela.
The green-bearded helmetcrest is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia.
The buffy helmetcrest is a Vulnerable species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia.
