Buffy hummingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffy hummingbird |
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Leucippus
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fallax
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The buffy hummingbird (Leucippus fallax) is a tiny, colorful bird that belongs to the hummingbird family. It's the only species in its group, called Leucippus. This amazing bird lives in dry forests and scrublands in northern South America. It loves to eat insects and the sweet nectar, juicy flesh, and juice from cactus fruits.
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What Does the Buffy Hummingbird Look Like?
Both male and female buffy hummingbirds look quite similar. However, females often have slightly duller colors. Their appearance can also vary a bit between different birds.
The back and upper parts of this hummingbird are a dull green. Its belly and underparts are a pale, light brown color. The very bottom of its belly and the feathers under its tail are white.
Its tail is dull green with a grey bar across it. The end of the tail is rounded. This bird has a small white spot right behind its eye. Its beak is thin and straight. The top part of the beak is black, while the bottom part is pale with a black tip. Buffy hummingbirds are about 8.5 to 9 centimeters (about 3.3 to 3.5 inches) long.
Where Do Buffy Hummingbirds Live?
The buffy hummingbird can be found in several countries in northern South America. These include Colombia, French Guiana, and Venezuela.
Their favorite habitats are dry areas with lots of shrubs, especially thorny ones. They also live in desert shrubland and even mangrove areas. You can find them at elevations up to 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) above sea level. They usually look for food at medium heights or close to the ground. They also like to feed near the top of the trees in the forests they call home.
How Do Buffy Hummingbirds Behave?
What Do Buffy Hummingbirds Eat?
Hummingbirds are known for eating nectar from flowers. The buffy hummingbird drinks nectar from plants like Agave and Hibiscus. They also get nectar from different types of cacti. These hummingbirds will even protect the patches of flowers they feed from.
What makes this hummingbird special is that it also eats the exposed flesh and juice from the fruits of Armatocereus cacti. This bird also helps pollinate Melocactus flowers. As it sips nectar, pollen sticks to its feathers. Then, it carries the pollen to other flowers. Besides plants, the buffy hummingbird also eats insects. It catches these insects while flying.
Do Buffy Hummingbirds Migrate?
Yes, buffy hummingbirds do migrate, but only over short distances. From December to April, when there isn't much rain, you'll usually find them in areas with many thorn trees.
How Do Buffy Hummingbirds Reproduce?
Male buffy hummingbirds perform a special courtship dance. They dive from the sky in a curved path. As they fall, they also make mating calls.
Most buffy hummingbird nests are found between May and November. This suggests that they usually breed during this time. The nest is shaped like a cup. It is built on a low branch or in the fork of a bush. The nest is made from soft fibers, often from tree cotton. They decorate the outside with small pieces of bark, lichen, and leaves. Female hummingbirds typically lay two eggs.
Is the Buffy Hummingbird Endangered?
The total number of buffy hummingbirds in the world is not known. However, they live across a very large area. There are also no signs that their population is shrinking. Because of these reasons, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) considers the buffy hummingbird to be of "least concern". This means they are not currently at risk of becoming endangered.
