Tolima blossomcrown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tolima blossomcrown |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Anthocephala |
| Species: |
A. berlepschi
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| Binomial name | |
| Anthocephala berlepschi (Salvin, 1893)
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The Tolima blossomcrown (Anthocephala berlepschi) is a small, colorful hummingbird found only in Colombia. It is considered a Vulnerable species, which means its population is decreasing and it needs protection. This bird is part of a group of hummingbirds called "emeralds."
Contents
How it Got Its Name
For a long time, scientists thought the Tolima blossomcrown was just a type of another bird, the Santa Marta blossomcrown. But in 2014, a study looked closely at their genes. It found that these two birds were very different. They even lived in different climates.
Because of these differences, scientists decided they were separate species. The Santa Marta blossomcrown kept its original name. The Tolima blossomcrown got its own unique name. This means the Tolima blossomcrown is now considered a unique species.
What it Looks Like
The Tolima blossomcrown is about 8.4 centimeters (3.3 inches) long. Both male and female birds have a straight, black beak.
The adult male has a light, creamy white forehead. The back of its head is a reddish-brown color. Most of its upper body is a shiny green. Its lower back and the feathers covering its tail are rusty colored. Its belly is a grayish-cream color.
Its tail is a bronze-green color. The tail feathers have wide white tips. All but the two middle tail feathers also have a black bar near the tip. Young birds and females look similar to the adult male. However, their entire head is brownish.
Where it Lives and What it Likes
The Tolima blossomcrown lives in Colombia. You can find it in the upper Magdalena River Valley. This area includes parts of the Cauca, Huila, Tolima, and Quindío regions.
This hummingbird likes to live inside and at the edges of humid forests. It prefers old, untouched forests and mature forests that have grown back. It lives at elevations between 1,200 and 2,500 meters (about 3,900 to 8,200 feet) above sea level.
Behavior
Movement
Scientists believe the Tolima blossomcrown usually stays in one place. It is thought to be a "sedentary" bird. This means it does not travel far. However, researchers are still studying if it moves to different elevations during certain seasons.
Feeding
We do not know much about how the Tolima blossomcrown finds food or what it eats. Scientists think it might look for food low in the forest. This is similar to how the Santa Marta blossomcrown feeds.
Reproduction
Scientists have not yet studied the breeding habits of the Tolima blossomcrown. We do not know when or how they reproduce.
Vocalization
The song of the Tolima blossomcrown is a long series of repeated "tsip" notes.
Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Tolima blossomcrown as a Vulnerable species. This means it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its home range is small. There are fewer than 4,500 adult birds left. This number is believed to be shrinking. A lot of the forests where it used to live have been cut down. These areas are now used for farming. The remaining forests are broken up into smaller pieces.
The good news is that this hummingbird does live in two national parks. These parks help protect some of its habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Colibrí cabecicastaño de Tolima para niños
 | Isaac Myers |
 | D. Hamilton Jackson |
 | A. Philip Randolph |
