Veraguan mango facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veraguan mango |
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| Veraguan mango (female) | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Anthracothorax |
| Species: |
A. veraguensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Anthracothorax veraguensis Reichenbach, 1855
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| Veraguan mango range | |
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The Veraguan mango (scientific name: Anthracothorax veraguensis) is a type of hummingbird. It belongs to the bird family called Trochilidae. You can find this beautiful bird in Panama and, more recently, in Costa Rica. For a long time, scientists thought it was the same as the Green-breasted Mango hummingbird. But in 1995, they realized it was a different species because of how it looked and where it lived.
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What Does the Veraguan Mango Look Like?
The Veraguan mango is a medium-sized hummingbird. It grows to be about 11 to 12 centimeters long. Both male and female birds are a shiny metallic green color. They have a dark gray beak that curves slightly downwards. Their tail feathers are black, and each feather has a red circle in the middle.
This species shows sexual dimorphism. This means males and females look different. Male Veraguan mangos have a bluish chest and belly. Females have a white or cream-colored belly. They also have a dark teal stripe running down their chest.
The Veraguan mango looks very much like the Green-breasted mango. However, the Veraguan mango does not have black feathers on its throat. Also, the black stripe on the belly of the Green-breasted mango is teal in female Veraguan mangos.
Where Do Veraguan Mangos Live?
This hummingbird is named after the Veraguas Province in Panama. That is where it was first discovered. It is common along the Pacific coast of Panama. It also lives in Costa Rica.
For a while, people thought it only lived in Panama. But now, it has been seen in the southern Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. In 2009, it was officially added to Costa Rica's bird list.
Like other hummingbirds, the Veraguan mango eats nectar from flowers. It also eats small insects. It has been seen feeding on Erythrina gibbosa flowers in Costa Rica. It also feeds on other types of Erythrina flowers.
How Scientists Classify This Bird
The Veraguan mango looks very similar to the Green-breasted mango. They also live in some of the same areas. Because of this, scientists once thought they were the same species. They were grouped together as Anthracothorax prevostii.
However, the Veraguan mango was later named its own species, Anthracothorax veraguensis. This was because of differences in how it looked. For example, it does not have black feathers on its underside. Studies of the Trochilidae family show that A. prevostii and A. veraguensis are indeed sister species. This means they are very closely related.
Is the Veraguan Mango in Danger?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the Veraguan mango as "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. Scientists do not know the exact number of these birds. They also do not know if their population is growing or shrinking.
However, they do not believe the population is small enough to be considered "Vulnerable." The bird lives in an area of about 57,300 square kilometers. This area is larger than what is needed to be listed as vulnerable.
See also
- Anthracothorax
- Green-breasted mango
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
