Rufous sabrewing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rufous sabrewing
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Pampa
Species:	P. rufa
Binomial name
Pampa rufa (Lesson, 1840)
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Synonyms
Campylopterus rufus

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The rufous sabrewing (Pampa rufa) is a type of hummingbird. It belongs to a group of hummingbirds called "emeralds." You can find this beautiful bird in countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.

How Scientists Name Them

The rufous sabrewing has had a few name changes over time! It was first called Pampa rufus. Later, scientists moved it to a different group called Campylopterus. But then, they decided to move it back to the Pampa group. They also changed its second name to rufa to match the group's name better.

Most big bird organizations, like the American Ornithological Society, agree on the name P. rufa. However, one group, BirdLife International, still uses the old name, Campylopterus rufus. All these groups agree on one thing: the rufous sabrewing is a "monotypic" species. This means it's the only kind of rufous sabrewing; there are no different subspecies or types of it.

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

What Does It Look Like?

The rufous sabrewing is a medium-sized hummingbird. It is about 12 to 14 centimeters (5 to 5.5 inches) long. It weighs around 7.5 grams (0.26 ounces), which is about as much as two pennies!

Both male and female sabrewings look very similar. They have a straight, strong, and wide black beak. Their upper body is a bright, shiny bronze-green color. The top of their head is a bit darker. The feathers near their tail are more bronzy.

Their face is a warm cinnamon color, and they have a small white spot right behind each eye. Their belly and chest are also cinnamon, but a little lighter in the middle. Their tail feathers are mostly metallic bronze or greenish-bronze. The outer tail feathers have cinnamon at the base and tips, with a dark band in the middle.

Where Do They Live?

You can find the rufous sabrewing in the highlands of western Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. They live on the slopes of mountains, like the Sierra Madre de Chiapas. Their home stretches from the Mexican state of Oaxaca all the way to El Salvador's Volcán de San Salvador.

These hummingbirds like to live in wet, evergreen mountain forests. They also enjoy pine-oak forests. Sometimes, you can even spot them in coffee farms or other plantations. They usually live at elevations between 900 and 2,000 meters (about 3,000 to 6,500 feet) high. They are most common above 1,300 meters (about 4,200 feet).

How They Live

Moving Around

Scientists believe that rufous sabrewings usually stay in one place. They don't travel long distances. However, they might move up or down mountains. They do this to find the best places with lots of flowers for nectar.

What Do They Eat?

The rufous sabrewing mainly eats nectar from flowers. They visit many different kinds of plants, shrubs, and trees to find their food. We don't know a lot about their exact diet yet.

They usually stay low to the ground, often in the shady parts of the forest. But they will fly higher to the top of trees if they are at the edge of the forest. Male sabrewings protect their favorite feeding spots. Besides nectar, they also eat small insects. They catch these insects by flying out from a perch, a behavior called "hawking."

Reproduction

Male rufous sabrewings sing to attract females. They gather in special spots called "leks" in the thick undergrowth of the forest. The female builds a small, cup-shaped nest. She uses moss and lines it with soft thistle down. She also covers the outside with lichen, which makes some moss hang down like a "beard."

The nest is usually placed on a thin branch. It's often easy to see and is usually about 2 meters (6.5 feet) off the ground. The female lays two eggs. She sits on them to keep them warm for about 15 to 16 days. The young birds leave the nest about 23 to 26 days after they hatch.

Their Sounds

The rufous sabrewing's song is quite varied. It includes strong, squeaky chipping and chattering sounds. They also make short, rich, warbled phrases. Besides their song, they have different calls. These include a sharp, nasal "squihk," a slightly more metallic "pli'ik," and a hard, chipping "chi'ilrr chik-chik-chik-chik."

Protecting the Sabrewing

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the rufous sabrewing is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. However, their population is estimated to be between 20,000 and 50,000 adult birds.

Even though they are not in immediate danger, their numbers are believed to be going down. They also live in a specific, limited area. No major threats to them have been found yet. In Mexico, this bird is considered a "species under special protection." But there isn't a specific program just for their conservation right now.