Golden-tailed starfrontlet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden-tailed starfrontlet |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Coeligena |
| Species: |
C. eos
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| Binomial name | |
| Coeligena eos Gould, 1848
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The golden-tailed starfrontlet (Coeligena eos) is a beautiful type of hummingbird. These tiny birds are known for their bright, shining feathers. This specific hummingbird lives only in Venezuela, a country in South America. People sometimes call it the Merida starfrontlet or the golden starfrontlet.
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About the Golden-tailed Starfrontlet
The golden-tailed starfrontlet is a unique bird. It is part of a group of hummingbirds called "brilliants." Scientists have studied these birds for a long time. Different bird groups around the world have slightly different names for it. Some even think it might be a subspecies of another hummingbird, the golden-bellied starfrontlet.
What the Golden-tailed Starfrontlet Looks Like
This hummingbird is about 11.4 centimeters (4.5 inches) long. This includes its long bill, which is about 3.0 centimeters (1.2 inches). Males weigh about 6.8 grams (0.24 ounces), and females are slightly lighter at 6.4 grams (0.23 ounces).
Both male and female golden-tailed starfrontlets have a small white spot behind each eye.
Male Starfrontlets
Adult males have a dark, almost black, crown on their head. Their forehead shines with a bright green color. Their upper back is a glowing golden green, which changes to a gold or golden-orange color near their tail.
Their throat and chest are a sparkling green. The throat also has a small patch of violet. The rest of their belly can look different, from a shiny coppery red to a reddish gold. The feathers under their tail are a light cinnamon color. Their wings are dark, with a reddish-brown patch on some of the feathers. The tail is slightly forked and is reddish-brown or cinnamon, with golden-bronze tips.
Female Starfrontlets
Adult females have a plain green forehead. The rest of their upper parts are similar to the male's but are not as bright. Their throat is a plain cinnamon-buff color and has green spots on the sides. Their chest is a mix of buff and green. The rest of their underparts are mostly cinnamon, with a fiery gold belly and a coppery gold area near their vent.
Where the Golden-tailed Starfrontlet Lives
The golden-tailed starfrontlet lives in the Andes mountains in western Venezuela. You can find them in the states of Lara and Táchira.
They mostly live inside and on the edges of humid montane forest. This means forests that are high up in the mountains and get a lot of moisture. They also live in smaller, dwarf forests and more open areas with scattered plants. These birds can be found at elevations from 1,400 to 3,200 meters (4,600 to 10,500 feet) above sea level.
Behavior of the Golden-tailed Starfrontlet
Movement and Migration
The golden-tailed starfrontlet seems to move to higher parts of the mountains when it is the rainy season. This might be to find more food or better places to live.
Feeding Habits
These hummingbirds get their food by drinking nectar from long, tube-shaped flowers. They usually feed from flowers that are low to medium height. They have been seen feeding from plants like Ericaceae (a family of plants including blueberries and rhododendrons), and from plants in the Centropogon and Fuchsia groups.
Besides nectar, they also eat small arthropods (like insects or spiders). They catch these tiny creatures by picking them off leaves, hovering in the air, or by flying out to snatch them in mid-air, a behavior called hawking.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for the golden-tailed starfrontlet seems to be from January to March. The female builds a cup-shaped nest using moss, lichens, and small roots. She lines the inside with softer plant materials. The nest is usually attached to a vertical branch within thick plants. Not much else is known about how they raise their young.
Vocalizations
As of early 2023, there are no known recordings of the golden-tailed starfrontlet's calls or songs. Scientists are still working to record and understand their sounds.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the golden-tailed starfrontlet as a species of "Least Concern." This means that, for now, it is not considered to be in immediate danger of extinction.
However, this bird lives in a small area, and scientists do not know exactly how many of them there are. It is believed that their population might be getting smaller. There are no immediate big threats identified. But, the areas where they live are seeing new human settlements and places where people are looking for minerals. This could affect their habitat in the future.
See also
In Spanish: Inca alirrufo para niños
 | Mary Eliza Mahoney |
 | Susie King Taylor |
 | Ida Gray |
 | Eliza Ann Grier |
