Sombre hummingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sombre hummingbird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eupetomena
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| Species: |
cirrochloris
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| Synonyms | |
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Campylopterus cirrochloris, Aphantochroa cirrochloris |
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The sombre hummingbird (Eupetomena cirrochloris) is a type of hummingbird found only in Brazil. It belongs to a group of hummingbirds called "emeralds."
Contents
About Its Name and Family
Scientists group living things into families and groups. This helps us understand how they are related. The sombre hummingbird's scientific name is Eupetomena cirrochloris.
For a while, this hummingbird was in a different group called Aphantochroa. Some scientists even thought it belonged with a group called Campylopterus.
But after a special study in 2014, most experts decided it fits best with the Eupetomena group. This means it's now considered a close relative of other hummingbirds in that group.
This hummingbird is also "monotypic," which means it's the only species in its specific group. There aren't any different types or subspecies of the sombre hummingbird.
What It Looks Like
The sombre hummingbird is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long. That's about the length of a pen. It weighs between 7.1 to 9 g (0.25 to 0.32 oz). This is about the weight of a few paperclips.
Both male and female sombre hummingbirds look very similar. Females are just a tiny bit smaller than males. They have a black beak that curves slightly downwards.
Their upper parts, like their back and head, are a shiny bronze-green color. Sometimes they look almost blackish-bronze. Their tail feathers have a coppery shine.
Their underparts, like their belly, are a dull gray. They might have a few dull green spots on their throat. Their tail is square-shaped. The feathers in the middle of the tail are shiny green, and the outer ones are black with a bronze glow.
Where It Lives and Its Home
The sombre hummingbird lives in eastern Brazil. You can find it from the state of Pernambuco in the north, all the way south to Rio Grande do Sul. It also lives west into Mato Grosso.
It likes to live on the edges of humid forests. It also lives in the lower parts of these forests. You can find it in both old, untouched forests and newer forests that are growing back. They also live in plantations and gardens.
Its main home is the Atlantic Forest. This is a very special forest in Brazil. But it also lives in areas where the cerrado (a type of grassland) and caatinga (a dry forest) areas meet.
How It Behaves
Movement and Travel
The sombre hummingbird stays in the same area all year round. It does not migrate to different places.
What It Eats
This hummingbird drinks nectar from many different kinds of flowers. It even drinks from Eucalyptus trees, which were brought to Brazil from other places.
It can find nectar from the lowest parts of the forest up to 30 m (100 ft) high in the trees. It is very protective of its favorite flower patches. It will aggressively chase away other hummingbirds, even those of its own kind, to protect its food.
Besides nectar, it also eats small insects and spiders. It catches these by "hawking." This means it waits on a branch and then quickly flies out to snatch an insect in the air.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Sombre hummingbirds usually breed between November and March. The female builds a cup-shaped nest. She uses soft plant materials and decorates the outside with large pieces of lichen.
She usually builds her nest like a saddle on a horizontal branch. The female lays two eggs. She sits on them for 15 to 16 days to keep them warm. The baby hummingbirds leave the nest about 28 days after they hatch.
How It Sings and Calls
The sombre hummingbird's song sounds like a high-pitched "tchui-ui." It often repeats this sound. It usually sings at dawn, which is early in the morning. It also sings when it's having a conflict with another bird.
It makes at least six different calls. These calls are described as "chirp," "guttural," "vibrato," "whistle," "crack," and "high-pitch."
Its Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the sombre hummingbird. They have decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
It lives in a very large area. However, we don't know exactly how many sombre hummingbirds there are. Scientists believe their numbers might be slowly going down. No immediate big threats have been found for them.
In most parts of its range, except for the very south, it is considered common. It also lives in several protected areas, which helps keep its habitat safe.
