Mexican sheartail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican sheartail |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Doricha
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| Species: |
eliza
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| Range of Doricha eliza | |
The Mexican sheartail (Doricha eliza) is a tiny hummingbird that lives only in Mexico. It is part of the Trochilidae family, which includes all hummingbirds. This special bird is known for its unique appearance and where it chooses to live.
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How to Spot a Mexican Sheartail
The Mexican sheartail is a very small bird. It weighs only about 2.4 to 2.6 g (0.085 to 0.092 oz), which is lighter than a penny! All of these hummingbirds have a long, curved, black beak. Their heads are dull green, and their backs are a shiny bronzy-green.
Differences Between Males and Females
Male and female Mexican sheartails look different. This is called sexual dimorphism.
- Males are about 9 to 10 centimetres (3.5 to 3.9 in) long, including their tail. They have a white line behind their eye. Their throat is a bright pink-purple, with a white band below it. Their belly is dull green. The male's tail is long and deeply split, like a fork. It is usually held closed. The inner tail feathers are green, while the rest are black with a hint of cinnamon.
- Females are a bit shorter, about 8.5 to 9 cm (3.3 to 3.5 in). They have a whitish face with a dark stripe behind the eye. Their throat, chest, and belly are whitish, with a cinnamon color on the sides. The female's tail is shorter and also forked. Its outer feathers are reddish with a black band and white tips. Young birds look similar to the females.
Where Mexican Sheartails Live
This hummingbird is found only in Mexico. It lives in two separate areas. One group lives in the center of Veracruz. The other group lives along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Their Favorite Homes
Mexican sheartails like different kinds of places to live. These include:
- Dry forests in warm areas.
- Dry shrublands in warm areas.
- Mangroves, which are forests that grow in salty water. An example is the Petenes mangroves in the Yucatán Peninsula.
- Gardens in the countryside.
- Even in urban areas, like towns and cities.
Sadly, these birds are losing their homes. This is a big problem called habitat loss.
What They Eat and How They Live
The Mexican sheartail mostly eats nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid that flowers make. They have been seen visiting flowers like Ipomoea, Justicia, and Helicteres guazumaefolia. Sometimes, they also eat small arthropods, which are tiny bugs.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
In Veracruz, Mexican sheartails start to breed in May. In Yucatán, they breed between August and April. They build a tiny, cup-shaped nest. It is made from things like lichens, spider webs, and seeds from the daisy family of plants. The female usually lays two eggs. Young birds that have just learned to fly have been seen in Yucatán in February and March.
Why They Need Our Help
The Mexican sheartail lives in a small area that is split into two parts. Scientists estimate there are fewer than 2,500 birds in the Veracruz group. The Yucatán group has between 6,000 and 10,000 birds.
Both groups are facing problems because their homes are being damaged.
- In Veracruz, their habitat is being lost because of farms and new buildings.
- In Yucatán, their homes are being lost due to new buildings for tourists.
Because of these problems, the number of Mexican sheartails is likely going down. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed this species as "Near Threatened". This means they are close to becoming endangered and need our help to protect their homes.
