Sapphire-vented puffleg

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Sapphire-vented puffleg
Sapphire-Vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani).jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [3]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Eriocnemis
Species:
E. luciani
Binomial name
Eriocnemis luciani
(Bourcier, 1847)
Eriocnemis luciani map.svg

The sapphire-vented puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Venezuela. [4] [5]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and the Clements taxonomy recognize the following five subspecies of sapphire-vented puffleg. [4] [6]

BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World accepts several 21st century studies and treats the last two as members a separate species, the coppery-naped puffleg (E. sapphiropygia). [5] The South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society declined to recognize that split. [7]

Subspecies E. l. meridae is known only from the holotype that was collected in 1898, and it might be extinct. [8]

Description

The sapphire-vented puffleg is 11.4 to 14 cm (4.5 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 5.4 to 6.4 g (0.19 to 0.23 oz). It has a straight black bill. The nominate subspecies' male has metallic grass green upperparts with a shining dark blue forecrown. Its underparts are mostly glittering golden green with a glittering purple vent and undertail coverts. Its leg puffs are white and the tail is deeply forked and blue-black. The female is slightly smaller, with a less deeply forked tail, but has the same plumage. [8]

Subspecies E. l. meridae is a more bronzy green than the nominate, its chin emerald to golden, and much of its head feathering has iridescent copper fringes. E. l. baptistae is an even deeper bronzy green than meridae. E. l. catharina has upperparts like the nominate but without the blue forecrown. The male's belly is bluer and the centerof the female's belly is whitish. E. l. sapphiropygia is a lighter green than the nominate, lacks the nominate's blue forecrown, and has a bronzy or coppery tinge to the rear of the crown. [8]

Distribution and habitat

The subspecies of sapphire-vented puffleg are found thus (but see the text below): [4] [8]

Because E. l. meridae is known only from a single 19th century specimen and might be extinct, the SACC does not include Venezuela in the species' range. The SACC also notes that the species has been recorded as hypothetical (with "no tangible evidence") in Bolivia. [9] There are several gaps in the distribution along the Andes that have not been explained. [8]

The sapphire-vented puffleg inhabits humid montane forest, especially elfin forest and Polylepis woodlands, and is also found in brushy páramo . In Ecuador it ranges between 2,700 and 3,700 m (8,900 and 12,100 ft) of elevation, but occurs mostly below 3,400 m (11,200 ft). In Peru it occurs between 2,400 and 3,500 m (7,900 and 11,500 ft). [8]

Behavior

Feeding

The sapphire-vented puffleg forages for nectar at low levels, where it clings to the flowers of shrubs and understory plants. It has been documented feeding at mistletoes and also plants of genera Barnadesia , Embothrium , Bomarea , and Siphocampylus . It also feeds on small insects like other hummingbirds. [8]

Breeding

Little is known about the sapphire-vented puffleg's breeding phenology. The one described nest was made of moss, lichen, fern leaves, and spiderweb and was hung from a thin twig in dense grass. It contained two white eggs. [8]

Vocalization

The sapphire-vented puffleg's call is described as a "sharp tirr tirr". [8]

Status

The IUCN follows HBW taxonomy and so assesses the sapphire-vented and "coppery-naped" pufflegs separately. Both are assessed as being of Least Concern. Their population sizes are not known but are believed to be stable. No specific threats have been identified. [1] [2] The species is variously described as uncommon to locally very common, and "[h]uman activity has little short-term direct effect on Sapphire-vented Puffleg, other than the local effects of habitat destruction". [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puffleg</span> Hummingbird

The pufflegs are hummingbirds from the genera Eriocnemis and Haplophaedia. They occur in humid forest, woodland and shrub at altitudes of 1000 to 4800 m. asl in the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The males have a colorful green, coppery or blue plumage, and the females are generally somewhat duller. The most striking feature of both sexes is their dense snow-white leg puffs which consist of feather tufts that resemble woolly panties. One species - the black-thighed puffleg - is characterized by black coloured leg puffs, and another - the buff-thighed puffleg - has lightly buff-tinged leg puffs. Further common features of all species are the straight black bill and the slightly to deeply forked tail. The members of the genus Haplophaedia are generally duller than the members of Eriocnemis.

<i>Eriocnemis</i> Genus of birds

Eriocnemis is a genus of hummingbirds, which - together with the species in the genus Haplophaedia - are known as pufflegs. They occur in humid forest, woodland and shrub at altitudes of 1000 to 4800 m. asl in the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The males have a colourful green, coppery or blue plumage, and the females are generally somewhat duller. The most striking feature of both sexes in the genus Eriocnemis are their dense snow-white leg-puffs which consist of feather tufts that resemble woolly panties. One species, the black-thighed puffleg - is characterized by black coloured leg-puffs. Most have a contrasting blue, purple or coppery-red vent, but this is green in the black-thighed and emerald-bellied puffleg. Further common features of all species are the straight black bill and the slightly to deeply forked tail. The genus name was coined by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach who called them Snowy panties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorful puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The colorful puffleg is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared inca</span> Species of hummingbird

The collared inca is a species of hummingbird found in humid Andean forests from western Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru. It is very distinctive in having a white chest-patch and white on the tail. Like other hummingbirds it takes energy from flower nectar, while the plant benefits from the symbiotic relationship by being pollinated. Its protein source is small arthropods such as insects. It is normally solitary and can be found at varying heights above the ground, often in the open.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sapphire-spangled emerald</span> Species of hummingbird

The sapphire-spangled emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is regularly found in Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela; as a vagrant in Argentina; and has possibly occurred in Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorgeted puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The gorgeted puffleg is a Critically Endangered species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia. It was discovered in 2005 and confirmed as a species new to science in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow-bearded thornbill</span> Species of hummingbird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western emerald</span> Species of hummingbird

The western emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet-throated starfrontlet</span> Species of hummiingbird

The violet-throated starfrontlet is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru and possibly Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald-bellied puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The emerald-bellied puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in the subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coppery-bellied puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The coppery-bellied puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-thighed puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The black-thighed puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-breasted puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The golden-breasted puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glowing puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The glowing puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenish puffleg</span> Species of hummingbird

The greenish puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain velvetbreast</span> Species of hummingbird

The mountain velvetbreast is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bearded mountaineer</span> Species of hummingbird

The bearded mountaineer or eastern mountaineer is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffroy's daggerbill</span> Species of hummingbird

Geoffroy's daggerbill, Geoffroy's wedgebill, or eastern wedge-billed hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson-mantled woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The crimson-mantled woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coppery-naped puffleg</span> Subspecies of bird

The coppery-naped puffleg is a subspecies of hummingbird found in the Andes in Peru in wet montane forest edges between 2000 and 4000 m altitude. It is usually considered a subspecies of the sapphire-vented puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T61162182A95164946. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61162182A95164946.en . Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Coppery-naped Puffleg Eriocnemis sapphiropygia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T61162365A95165142. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T61162365A95165142.en . Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  4. 1 2 3 Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (July 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 12.1)". doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.11.2 . Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 HBW and BirdLife International (2020) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world Version 5. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v5_Dec20.zip [.xls zipped 1 MB] retrieved 27 May 2021
  6. ↑ Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved August 25, 2021
  7. ↑ "RECENT CHANGES". South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society. January 31, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022. Proposal 147
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Schulenberg, T. S. and C. W. Sedgwick (2020). Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.savpuf1.01 retrieved March 14, 2022
  9. ↑ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 31 January 2022. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved February 1, 2022
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