Gorgeted puffleg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gorgeted puffleg |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
 |
The gorgeted puffleg (Eriocnemis isabellae) is a very rare type of hummingbird. It is considered Critically Endangered, meaning it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever. This special bird is only found in Colombia. Scientists first discovered it in 2005, and it was officially recognized as a new species in 2007.
Contents
About the Gorgeted Puffleg
How it Was Discovered
The first gorgeted puffleg was found in 2005 using a special net. After finding more of these birds, scientists compared them to other similar hummingbirds. They realized it was a completely new species! This discovery was announced in 2007. Soon after, bird experts around the world agreed that it was a unique species.
What it Looks Like
The gorgeted puffleg is a small bird, about 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long. It weighs around 4.5 g (0.16 oz), which is about the same as two pennies! It has a short, straight, black beak.
The male bird is quite striking. It has a shiny violet-blue patch on its throat, called a gorget, which is unique among pufflegs. This patch has green edges. Most of the male's upper body is blackish with a shimmery golden-olive green color. Its lower back has a green shine. Its tail is dark blue and slightly forked. The chest and belly are velvety black, with green on the sides. The feathers under its tail are blue. A cool feature is its white "leg puffs," which are fluffy feathers around its legs. The male has dark brown eyes and blackish legs.
The female gorgeted puffleg looks a bit different. Her upper body is a lighter bronze-green. Her lower back and the feathers above her tail are bluish. Her belly is golden-green with reddish edges on the feathers and a shiny turquoise color.
Where it Lives
The gorgeted puffleg is only found in a specific area of Colombia called the Serranía del Pinche. This area is in the Western Andes mountains, in a region called Department of Cauca.
Its home is a very wet cloudforest and elfin forest. These forests are on steep slopes with rocky spots and natural clearings. The trees there are mostly Andean oak, and there are many types of shrubs and plants underneath them. These birds live at high elevations, mainly between 2,600 and 2,900 m (8,500 and 9,500 ft).
Gorgeted Puffleg Behavior
Movement
Scientists don't know much about how the gorgeted puffleg moves around. However, they think these birds might move to different elevations depending on the season.
Feeding Habits
The gorgeted puffleg eats nectar, which is a sweet liquid found in flowers. It finds this nectar from flowering shrubs in thick plant areas. Some of the plants it has been seen feeding from include Bejaria resinosa, Cavendishia bracteata, Cinchona pubescens, and Faramea flavicans.
Reproduction
Not much is known about the gorgeted puffleg's reproduction or how it raises its young. Scientists are still learning about this part of its life cycle.
Vocalization
As of early 2022, there were no recordings of the gorgeted puffleg's sounds available online. Its song is still a mystery. However, its call, which it uses to mark its territory, is described as a sharp, single sound, like "twek." This call is lower in pitch than the calls of other birds in its group.
Status and Protection
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the gorgeted puffleg as Critically Endangered. This means it faces a very high risk of extinction.
Here's why:
- It lives in a very small area, and only a tiny part of that area is suitable for its habitat.
- There are only an estimated 250 to 999 adult birds left, and their numbers are still going down.
- Its home is threatened by illegal farming, even though the Serranía del Pinche mountain range is supposed to be a protected forest reserve.
Efforts are being made to protect this unique hummingbird and its habitat.
Images for kids
-
Map showing the limited range of the gorgeted puffleg in Colombia.
See also
In Spanish: Zamarrito del Pinche para niños
