Hispaniolan mango facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hispaniolan mango |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Anthracothorax |
| Species: |
A. dominicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Anthracothorax dominicus (Linnaeus, 1766)
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| Synonyms | |
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Trochilus dominicus Linnaeus, 1766 |
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The Hispaniolan mango (Anthracothorax dominicus) is a type of hummingbird. You can find it only on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. This island is home to both the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
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Discovering the Hispaniolan Mango
The Hispaniolan mango was first officially described in 1766. A Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus gave it the name Trochilus dominicus. He learned about it from a French zoologist, Mathurin Jacques Brisson, who had described and drawn the bird in 1760. Later, in 1831, a German zoologist named Friedrich Boie placed this hummingbird in a new group, or genus, called Anthracothorax.
For a while, some scientists thought the Hispaniolan mango and the Puerto Rican mango were the same species. They called them both "Antillean mango." But by 2003, many bird experts started to see them as two different species. Major bird organizations, like the American Ornithological Society (AOS), agreed in 2022.
What Does the Hispaniolan Mango Look Like?
Hispaniolan mangoes are about 11.5 to 13.5 centimeters (4.5 to 5.3 inches) long. Males are a bit heavier, weighing 6 to 8.2 grams (0.21 to 0.29 ounces). Females weigh 4 to 7 grams (0.14 to 0.25 ounces).
Male and Female Differences
Adult males have shiny bronze-green feathers on their backs. Their chin and throat are a metallic green. The rest of their belly is velvety black with a hint of blue. Their tail is mostly violet, with coppery colors inside and blue-black tips.
Female Hispaniolan mangoes also have shiny bronze-green backs. Their bellies are grayish, becoming pale white on the lower part. Their tail is reddish-violet with wide black marks near the end. The feathers on the very outside of the tail have white tips. Young birds are thought to look like the females, but with a black line down the middle of their belly.
Where Do They Live?
The Hispaniolan mango lives all over the island of Hispaniola. You can also find them on several small islands nearby.
Their Favorite Places
They live in many different places, both wet and dry. This includes open areas, gardens, and coffee farms where trees provide shade. They also live in secondary forest (forests that have grown back) and coastal areas with shrubs. They usually live below 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation. Sometimes, but rarely, they are found as high as 2,600 meters (8,500 feet).
Hispaniolan Mango Behavior
How They Move Around
The Hispaniolan mango stays in the same area all year. It does not migrate to other places.
What Do They Eat?
This hummingbird eats both nectar from flowers and small insects. Scientists don't know all the details about their diet yet. They drink nectar from many different kinds of flowering plants. Male hummingbirds often protect areas rich in nectar from other birds. They usually catch insects while flying. They also find spiders on leaves and tree bark. They can hunt for food as high as 20 meters (66 feet) above the ground. This species is very important for pollinating Heliconia bihai and H. caribaea flowers.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists have not fully studied how the Hispaniolan mango reproduces. Most of what we know comes from observations, not detailed studies. It is believed that they can breed at any time of the year.
Their nest is shaped like a cup. It is made of soft plant fibers held together with spider silk. The outside of the nest is covered with lichens and small pieces of bark. Nests are usually built in trees or shrubs. A female typically lays two eggs.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The Hispaniolan mango is thought to be mostly quiet. Its full song has not been described. Their calls include a repeated short "tsip" sound. They also make a high-pitched, flowing trill sound.
Status of the Hispaniolan Mango
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Hispaniolan mango as a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of extinction. However, their total population size and how it is changing are not fully known. They are generally common in coastal areas and found in large numbers in dry regions. They have disappeared from some small islands near the coast.
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
