Band-tailed barbthroat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Band-tailed barbthroat |
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| Conservation status | |
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Threnetes
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| Species: |
ruckeri
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| Subspecies | |
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T. r. ruckeri (Bourcier, 1847) |
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The band-tailed barbthroat (Threnetes ruckeri) is a medium-sized hummingbird. You can find these amazing birds in places like southeastern Guatemala and Belize. Their home range stretches all the way to western Ecuador and western Venezuela.
Contents
About the Band-tailed Barbthroat
Different Types of Barbthroats
The band-tailed barbthroat has three main types, called subspecies. These are like different versions of the same bird. There was once a suggestion for a fourth type, but it shared features with the other three.
The band-tailed barbthroat is part of a special group of hummingbirds. This group is called a superspecies. It includes the pale-tailed barbthroat and the sooty barbthroat. These birds are very similar to each other.
What Does It Look Like?
The band-tailed barbthroat is about 10 to 11 centimeters (4 to 4.3 inches) long. Males usually weigh between 5.5 and 7 grams (0.19 to 0.25 ounces). Females are a bit lighter, weighing 5 to 7 grams (0.18 to 0.25 ounces).
Colors and Markings
Adult males have shiny bronze-green feathers on their backs. They have a dark patch near their ears and on their chin. A dusky stripe runs along their cheek. Their tail is dark, but the feathers have white bases and tips. This creates a cool black band near the end of the tail.
Their throat is a yellowish-orange color. The rest of their belly is gray, with some green feathers mixed in. They have a bill that is almost straight.
Males vs. Females and Young Birds
Like other hermit hummingbirds, males and females look quite similar. However, the female's bill is a little more curved than the male's. Also, the colors on her throat, chest, and belly are not as bright.
Young band-tailed barbthroats look like the adults. But their feathers have yellowish-orange edges.
Subspecies Differences
The different subspecies have slight variations in their appearance.
- T. r. venezuelensis has a slightly larger yellowish-orange throat patch.
- T. r. ventosus has a much bigger and brighter orange throat patch. Its belly also has a yellowish-orange tint.
Where Do They Live?
The different types of band-tailed barbthroats live in different areas.
- T. r. ventosus lives in the northernmost areas. You can find it from eastern Guatemala and Belize. It also lives through Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and into Panama.
- The main type, T. r. ruckeri, lives from northern and western Colombia. Its range goes south through western Ecuador, almost to Peru.
- T. r. venezuelensis is found in northwestern Venezuela.
These birds like to live in the lower parts and edges of primary forests. They also live in older forests that are growing back. You might also see them in semi-open areas, thick bushes, and even plantations. They can live from sea level up to about 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) high.
How Do They Behave?
Moving Around
Band-tailed barbthroats usually stay in the same area. They don't migrate far. However, some young birds have been seen moving around after the breeding season.
What Do They Eat?
Like other hermit hummingbirds, the band-tailed barbthroat is a "trap-line" feeder. This means it visits a regular path of flowering plants. It flies from one flower to another in a circuit.
They mostly drink nectar from Heliconia and other tube-shaped flowers. They also eat small arthropods, especially spiders. Sometimes, they are a bit sneaky! They might "rob" nectar by piercing the base of a flower. This lets them get the nectar without going through the front of the flower.
Nesting and Babies
The time when band-tailed barbthroats build nests and lay eggs changes a lot. It depends on where they live. Their nest is shaped like a cup. It's made of plant fibers and spiderwebs. They attach it to the underside tip of a long, hanging leaf.
Only the female bird sits on the two white eggs to keep them warm. However, male birds have been seen staying near the nest.
Their Song
The band-tailed barbthroat's song is a fast, high-pitched sound. It has about 5 to 10 notes. They repeat this phrase every few seconds. For example, it might sound like 'tzi-tzi-tsee-ee-tsi-tzi-tzi'.
In Costa Rica, the birds living on the Pacific side have a more complex song. It includes trills, which are quick, vibrating sounds. The birds on the Caribbean side have a simpler song.
Their Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the band-tailed barbthroat. They have assessed it as being of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently considered an endangered species. We don't know exactly how many of these birds there are. We also don't know if their numbers are going up or down. But they seem to be common in many places. They also live in several protected areas.
