Tooth-billed hummingbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tooth-billed hummingbird |
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Androdon
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aequatorialis
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The tooth-billed hummingbird (its scientific name is Androdon aequatorialis) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Trochilidae family, which is the hummingbird family! This bird is the only species in its group, called Androdon.
You can find this unique hummingbird in wet forests. It lives in western Colombia, north-western Ecuador, and far eastern Panama. Even though it's not seen very often and likes specific forest areas, its home range is quite large. Because of this, experts believe it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
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What Does the Tooth-billed Hummingbird Look Like?
This hummingbird is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long. A big part of its length is its long, straight bill, which is about 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) long. Its common name comes from the tiny, tooth-like bumps on the inside of the bill, near the tip.
The bird's back and head are a shiny green color, with a hint of coppery shine on its crown. Its belly is whitish with dark streaks. The tail is rounded and grayish, with a wide black band and white tips. There's also a clear white stripe on its lower back.
Male tooth-billed hummingbirds have a small hook at the end of their bill. Their "teeth" are also more noticeable. Their feathers are usually brighter than the females'. While its green upper parts shimmer with color, this hummingbird's feathers are not as bright as many other hummingbirds. It's easy to spot this bird because of its long, straight bill and its streaky white belly.
Where Does the Tooth-billed Hummingbird Live?
The tooth-billed hummingbird lives only in very wet primary forests. These are old, untouched forests. It also lives in nearby second growth areas, which are forests that have regrown after being cut down.
You can find this bird at different heights above sea level. In Ecuador, it's most common between 400 and 800 meters (about 1,300 to 2,600 feet). In Panama, it prefers higher areas, from 600 to 1,560 meters (about 2,000 to 5,100 feet). In Colombia, it lives up to 1,050 meters (about 3,400 feet) high.
How Does the Tooth-billed Hummingbird Behave?
This hummingbird is often hard to spot and not much is known about it. It is a very fast flyer. It looks for food from low branches all the way up to the lower part of the forest canopy. It drinks nectar from flowers, especially from plants like Ericaceae and Gesneriaceae.
One of its main ways of finding food is called "trap-lining." This means it flies a regular route, visiting the same flowers over and over. Its special serrated bill is also great for catching small spiders and insects. The hooked tip of the male's bill helps it pull prey out of rolled leaves and small holes. Sometimes, it quickly picks insects from under large leaves, flicking its tail as it does so.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists don't know much about how these birds raise their young. However, some birds caught in Colombia between January and March had enlarged organs related to breeding. This means they were ready to have babies.
In Ecuador, male tooth-billed hummingbirds sometimes gather in special areas called leks from February to May. In a lek, males show off to attract females. This is unusual for most hummingbirds in its main group, but common for another group of hummingbirds. Its calls include a high-pitched "tsit-tseé-tsu" and sharp "cheet" sounds.
How is the Tooth-billed Hummingbird Classified?
The exact place of the tooth-billed hummingbird in the bird family tree has been discussed by scientists. Some thought it belonged with a group called Phaethornithinae. Others thought it should be in its own small group with two other birds called lancebills. Today, most experts agree that it belongs at the beginning of the Trochilinae group, which is the main group of hummingbirds.
