| Southern giant hummingbird | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Patagona gigas in Chile | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Strisores |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Patagona |
| Species: | P. gigas |
| Binomial name | |
| Patagona gigas (Vieillot, 1824) | |
 | |
The southern giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) is one of two species in the genus Patagona and the second largest hummingbird species, after its close relative the northern giant hummingbird.
In 2014, P. gigas was split into two species, the northern giant hummingbird (P. chaski) and the southern giant hummingbird (P. gigas). The subspecies P. g. peruviana became invalid as it was found to be a nomen dubium . This is because the putative type series for the subspecies includes both giant hummingbird species: one Southern and three Northern giant hummingbirds. [3]
The subspecies are visually distinguishable. P. g. peruviana is yellowish brown overall and has white on the chin and throat, where P. g. gigas is more olive green to brown and lacks white on the chin and throat. [4]
The giant hummingbird is widely distributed throughout the length of the Andes on both the east and west sides. [4] It typically inhabits the higher altitude scrubland and forests that line the slopes of the Andes during the summer and then retreats to similar, lower altitude habitats in winter months. [5] [6] The species persists through a large altitude range, with specimens retrieved from sea level up to 4600 m. [4] They have shown to be fairly resilient to urbanisation and agricultural activities; however, the removal of vegetation limits their distribution in dense city areas and industrial zones. [7] The giant hummingbird migrates in summer to the temperate areas of South America, reaching as low as 44° S. Correspondingly, it migrates north to more tropical climates in winter (March–August), though not usually venturing higher than 28° S. [4] [8]
'P. g. peruviana' occurs from Ecuador to the southeastern mountains of Peru and 'P. g. gigas' from northern Bolivia and Chile to Argentina. Contact between these previously accepted subspecies [3] is most likely to occur around the eastern slopes of the north Peruvian Andes. [4]
The giant hummingbird holds significant value for some of the aboriginal inhabitants of the Andes. The people of Chiloé Island believe that if a woman captures a hummingbird then they will gain great fertility from it. [8] This species is a likely inspiration to the people of the Nazca culture who created the Nazca hummingbird geoglyph. [8]
The range of the giant hummingbird is sizable, estimated at 1,200,000 km2 (460,000 sq mi), with total numbers of about 10,000 adults. The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of Least Concern. [1]
The giant hummingbirds are hummingbirds of the genus Patagona. The genus includes two species, the sedentary giant hummingbird and the migratory giant hummingbird, which are the largest and second largest species of hummingbird respectively.
The Andean tinamou is a tinamou, found commonly in high-altitude shrubland, in the Andes of South America.
The red-tailed comet is a medium-sized hummingbird belonging to tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae, the "coquettes". It is found in Argentina and Bolivia and possibly Chile and Peru.
The amazilia hummingbird is a hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is the only species placed in the genus Amazilis. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. Its six subspecies differ primarily in their throat and belly colors.
The tawny-bellied hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The speckled hummingbird is a species of hummingbird. It is the only member of the genus Adelomyia. It inhabits Neotropical montane cloud forests at elevations of 1,000–2,500 meters and is confined to the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela; as well as to some isolated montane forests in western Ecuador and Venezuela. In Ecuador, it ranges across both the eastern and western slopes of the Andes and occupies a broad altitudinal range from subtropical forests to cloud forests. In addition, one isolated population inhabits the Chongón Colonche cordillera in the coastal evergreen montane forest located ca. 130 km away from the Andes.
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.
The fauna of the Andes, a mountain range in South America, is large and diverse. As well as a huge variety of flora, the Andes contain many different animal species.
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.
The black-throated hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The grey-chinned hermit is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The great sapphirewing is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The mountain parakeet, also known as the golden-fronted parakeet, is a species of parrot, one of two in the genus Psilopsiagon within the family Psittacidae. It is found in the Puna grassland. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. Four subspecies are recognised.
The blue-backed conebill is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae . It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The sierran elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Andean tit-spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The white-chinned thistletail, or colicardo barbiblanco in Ecuador, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The great thrush is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It is considered as the largest thrush in South America. The great thrush's size distinguishes it from the several other uniform slaty-colored thrushes in its range. It inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and high-altitude shrubland, but can also make use of degraded forest and urban areas.
The black-throated toucanet is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.
The northern giant hummingbird is the largest species of hummingbird and one of two species of the genus Patagona.
