Grey-bellied comet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey-bellied comet |
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Taphrolesbia
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griseiventris
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The grey-bellied comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) is a special type of hummingbird. It belongs to the Trochilidae family, which includes all hummingbirds. These amazing birds are only found in a few small areas in Peru, a country in South America. They live in high-up places like mountain shrublands and even in some rural gardens. Sadly, their homes are disappearing, which means they are in danger.
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What Does the Grey-Bellied Comet Look Like?
The grey-bellied comet is a large hummingbird. It has a long beak and a tail that splits deeply, like a fork. These birds can grow to be about 14 to 17 centimeters (5.5 to 6.7 inches) long.
Their upper body is a shiny bronzy-green color. Their long tail feathers are green with orange tips. The underside of their body is grey. Male grey-bellied comets have a bright blue throat, which makes them stand out. The female's tail is shorter than the male's. Both male and female birds have a small white spot right behind their eyes.
Where Does the Grey-Bellied Comet Live?
The grey-bellied comet lives in a very small area. This small home is one reason why it is currently an endangered bird. Scientists have found this bird in five separate, but close, places. These spots are in north-central Peru, high up in the Andes mountains.
The bird prefers to live on steep, rocky, and dry slopes. These areas usually have some plants growing on them. The grey-bellied comet mainly lives at very high altitudes. This means they are found between 2,750 to 3,170 meters (9,020 to 10,400 feet) above sea level.
Why Is the Grey-Bellied Comet Important?
Like many other hummingbirds, the grey-bellied comet plays a very important role in nature. It helps to pollinate woody shrubs and trees. When the hummingbird sips nectar from flowers, it carries pollen from one plant to another. This helps the plants to make seeds and grow new plants. Without pollinators like the grey-bellied comet, many plants would struggle to reproduce.
How Many Grey-Bellied Comets Are Left?
In 2012, experts estimated that there were only about 375 to 1,499 individual grey-bellied comets left. This is a very small number for a bird species. The biggest reason for their shrinking population is the loss and change of their natural home.
People are changing the bird's habitat for farming and other activities. This breaks up and shrinks the already small areas where the birds live. Because of these threats, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the grey-bellied comet as an "Endangered" species. This means it is at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
See also
In Spanish: Colibrí ventrigrís para niños
