Wire-crested Thorntail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wire-crested Thorntail |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Discosura
|
| Species: |
D. popelairii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Discosura popelairii Du Bus de Gisignies, 1846
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Popelairia popelairii |
|
The wire-crested thorntail (Discosura popelairii) is a tiny, colorful hummingbird. It gets its name from the special feathers on its head and tail. This amazing bird lives in the warm, green forests of South America.
Contents
Where Does This Hummingbird Live?
The wire-crested thorntail makes its home in several countries. You can find it flying around in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. These birds prefer areas with lots of trees and flowers. They live in humid (wet) forests, often in mountain foothills.
What Does a Wire-crested Thorntail Look Like?
This hummingbird is very small, like most hummingbirds. It has a shiny, steel-blue body. Its most famous feature is the "wire crest" on its head. This crest is made of bright green feathers that stand up like tiny wires.
Its tail is also special. It has long, thin outer feathers that look like pins. These feathers have white tips. When the bird spreads its tail, it looks very pretty. The combination of its crest and tail makes it easy to spot.
What Does it Eat?
Like all hummingbirds, the wire-crested thorntail loves nectar. Nectar is a sweet liquid found inside flowers. The bird uses its long, thin tongue to reach deep into flowers and slurp up the nectar. This gives it lots of energy to fly.
Besides nectar, these birds also eat tiny insects. They are very skilled at catching insects while flying. They might snatch them right out of the air. Insects provide important protein for the birds.
How Does it Fly?
Hummingbirds are known for their amazing flying skills. The wire-crested thorntail can hover in one spot, just like a helicopter. It flaps its wings incredibly fast, making a buzzing sound. This allows it to drink nectar from flowers without landing. They can also fly backward and sideways!
Interesting Facts About Hummingbirds
- Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.
- They have the fastest wing beats of any bird.
- Their hearts beat very fast, sometimes over 1,200 times per minute.
- Hummingbirds need to eat a lot to keep their energy up. They might visit hundreds of flowers in a single day.
See also
In Spanish: Rabudito Crestado para niños
