Dusky starfrontlet

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Dusky starfrontlet
Dusky Starfrontlet 2.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Coeligena
Species:
C. orina
Binomial name
Coeligena orina
Wetmore, 1953
Coeligena orina map.svg

The dusky starfrontlet (Coeligena orina), also known as glittering starfrontlet, is a hummingbird species in the subfamily Trochilinae. It is found only at high altitudes in the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia, and was first discovered on .[2] Its status was mysterious for a long time as it was only known from a single museum specimen; and erroneously considered to be an immature golden-bellied starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei. When it was rediscovered in 2004, in what is now the Colibri del Sol Bird Reserve, its status as a distinct species was confirmed.

Although this bird was listed as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List for many years, it became evident that it was close to extinction, and its status was upgraded to Critically Endangered in the 2007 Red List issue, though downlisted back to Endangered in 2020.[1]

Description[]

The Spanish name for the dusky starfrontlet is “Colibrí del Sol,” which translates to “hummingbird of the sun.”[3] The dusky starfrontlet is called this because the males appear dark from a distance but are very hard to miss in good lighting. The males have a dark black colored head and chest with a green fore-crown, a purple and blue colored throat patch, and a glittering purplish-pink belly. In comparison, the females have a buffy throat purple and pink colored belly, with a long straight beak.[4]  

Approximately 250 birds make up the entire species of the dusky starfrontlet. Unfortunately, this species is only known from one specimen in the last 50 years. As a result, the population is in extreme danger of becoming extinct due to habitat loss. This habitat loss may come from the threat of their only location being rich mining grounds for gold, zinc, and copper.[3] The dusky starfrontlet is located in a tall humid forest, elfin forest, and páramo-forest ecotone and has also been seen in a primary forest. The dusky starfrontlet has only been seen in two nests; both were found on a rock’s surface at a close distance to water. They were a few meters above the ground, being held up by small roots. Each nest only contained two eggs.[5]

Voice[]

The dusky starfrontlet is a relatively silent bird.[6] When the dusky starfrontlet sings has a high-pitched song sounding like “tseeririrrr- see- tsip.”[5]

Diet[]

The dusky starfrontlet eats insects and nectar. They especially enjoy Ericaceae plants.[6] In a stomach content analysis, an ornithologist found that the dusky starfrontlet had eaten parasitic wasps, spiders, and dipterans as well.[5]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2020). "Coeligena orina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22687828A179510387. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22687828A179510387.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Krabbe et al. (2005)
  3. ^ a b "Glittering Starfrontlet". American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  4. ^ "Blue-throated Starfrontlet - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  5. ^ a b c del Hoyo, Josep; Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M.; Sharpe, Christopher J.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020-03-04). "Dusky Starfrontlet (Coeligena orina)". Birds of the World.
  6. ^ a b "Dusky Starfrontlet - BirdForum Opus". BirdForum. Retrieved 2021-10-12.

References[]

  • BirdLife International (BLI) (2007): Dusky Starfrontlet - BirdLife Species Factsheet. Retrieved 2007-AUG-28.
  • Krabbe, Niels; Flórez, Pablo; Suárez, Gustavo; Castano, José; Arango, Juan David; Pulgarin, Paulo C; Múnera, Wilmar A; Stiles, F. Gary; & Salaman, Paul (2005) Rediscovery of the Dusky Starfrontlet Coeligena orina, with a description of the adult plumages and reassessment of its taxonomic status. Ornitologıá Colombiana 3: 28-35 [English with Spanish abstract].

External links[]

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