Pirre hummingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pirre hummingbird |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Goldmania |
| Species: |
G. bella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Goldmania bella (Nelson, 1912)
|
|
 |
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Goethalsia bella |
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The Pirre hummingbird (Goldmania bella) is a special type of hummingbird. It is considered a Near Threatened species. This means it might become endangered in the future. You can find this tiny bird in Panama and a small part of northwestern Colombia.
Contents
About the Pirre Hummingbird
What's in a Name?
The Pirre hummingbird got its name from the Cerro Pirre mountain. This mountain is in the Darién National Park in Panama. It was first described by a scientist named Edward William Nelson in 1912. He found these birds near the border with Colombia.
For a while, its scientific name was Goethalsia bella. But after some studies, scientists found it was closely related to the violet-capped hummingbird. So, most experts now call it Goldmania bella. This new name helps show how these hummingbirds are connected.
How to Spot One
The Pirre hummingbird is quite small. It is about 8.4 to 9.5 centimeters (around 3 to 3.7 inches) long. Males weigh about 3.0 to 3.5 grams. Females are a bit heavier, weighing 3.0 to 4.0 grams.
Both male and female Pirre hummingbirds have a slightly curved beak. The top part of their beak is black. The bottom part is pink with a black tip.
Male vs. Female
Male Pirre hummingbirds have a reddish-brown forehead. Their head, back, and rump are a shiny metallic green. The lower part of their back might look a bit bronzy. Their central tail feathers are green with black tips. The other tail feathers are a cinnamon color with black tips. Their chin is cinnamon, and their chest and belly are a bright bluish-green.
Female Pirre hummingbirds look a bit different. Their entire upper body is green. They do not have the reddish-brown forehead like the males. Their cheeks are reddish-brown. Their underparts are a pale cinnamon color.
Where They Live
Home and Habitat
The Pirre hummingbird lives in a few specific places. You can find them on isolated mountain ridges in eastern Darién Province in Panama. They also live in the nearby Chocó Department in Colombia.
These hummingbirds prefer humid montane forests. This means they live in wet, mountainous forests. They like to stay in the lower and middle parts of the forest. They live at elevations between 600 and 1650 meters (about 2,000 to 5,400 feet) high.
Pirre Hummingbird Behavior
Movement and Travel
Scientists are still learning about the Pirre hummingbird's movements. It is not yet known if they migrate or stay in one place all year.
What They Eat
The Pirre hummingbird mostly eats nectar from flowers. They look for food from near the ground up to the middle parts of the forest. They have been seen feeding from Cephalus shrubs. Like other hummingbirds, they probably also eat small insects and spiders. This gives them the protein they need.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Not much is known about how Pirre hummingbirds reproduce. Scientists have not yet found their nests. This means we do not know where they lay their eggs or how they raise their young.
Sounds They Make
There are not many recordings of the Pirre hummingbird's sounds. However, they do make a special call. It is a single, sharp note that they repeat many times. They make this sound when they are sitting on a branch. The reason they make this sound is not fully understood.
Protecting the Pirre Hummingbird
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the Pirre hummingbird as "Near Threatened." This is because they live in a very small area. There are only a few places where they can be found.
Much of their mountain forest home is still untouched. This is because it is hard to reach. Also, some areas are officially protected. However, we do not know exactly how many Pirre hummingbirds there are. We also do not know if their numbers are going up or down.
These birds live at fairly high elevations. This makes them vulnerable to changes caused by climate change. Different scientists have described them as rare, uncommon, or even common in different locations. More research is needed to understand their population better.
Images for kids
-
Map showing the Pirre hummingbird's range in Panama and Colombia.
 | Aurelia Browder |
 | Nannie Helen Burroughs |
 | Michelle Alexander |
