Marvelous spatuletail

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"Loddigesia" redirects here. For the legume genus of the same name, see Hypocalyptus.

Marvelous spatuletail
Loddigesia mirabilis + Aechmea mucroniflora - Gould Troch. pl. 161.jpg
Loddigesia mirabilis by John Gould
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Tribe: Heliantheini
Genus: Loddigesia
Bonaparte, 1850
Species:
L. mirabilis
Binomial name
Loddigesia mirabilis
(Bourcier, 1847)
Loddigesia mirabilis map.svg
Distribution of Loddigesia mirabilis in Peru

The marvelous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) is a medium-sized (up to 15 cm long) white, green and bronze hummingbird adorned with blue crest feathers, a brilliant turquoise gorget, and a black line on its white underparts. It is the only member of the genus Loddigesia. It is sexually dimorphic.

A molecular phylogenetic study of the hummingbirds published in 2014 found that the marvelous spatuletail was embedded in the genus Eriocnemis containing "pufflegs" making Eriocnemis polyphyletic.[2]

A Peruvian endemic, this species is found on forest edges in the Río Utcubamba region. It was first reported in 1835 by the bird collector Andrew Matthews for George Loddiges, after whom the genus is named.

The marvelous spatuletail is unique among birds in having just four feathers in its tail. Its most remarkable feature is the male's two long racquet-shaped outer tail feathers that cross each other and end in large violet-blue discs or "spatules". He can move them independently.

Due to habitat loss, small population size, and limited range, the marvelous spatuletail is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

In 2006, American Bird Conservancy provided Peruvian conservation partner ECOAN with support to sign a conservation easement with the Pomacochas Community to protect and manage about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of significant habitat for the marvelous spatuletail. Over 30,000 saplings of native trees and bushes have been planted there for the marvelous spatuletail. This conservation easement is the first of its kind in Peru.[3][4]

The marvelous spatuletail has been featured on the PBS TV series Nature[5] and the BBC TV series Natural World.[6] The marvelous spatuletail has also been featured in the 2009 BBC television series Life.

References[]

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Loddigesia mirabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22688130A93183168. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688130A93183168.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ McGuire, J.; Witt, C.; Remsen, J.V.; Corl, A.; Rabosky, D.; Altshuler, D.; Dudley, R. (2014). "Molecular phylogenetics and the diversification of hummingbirds". Current Biology. 24 (8): 910–916. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.016. PMID 24704078.
  3. ^ "A marvellous hummingbird display". 3 November 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Marvelous Spatuletail Hummingbird | Huembo | ECOAN | Photography". hummingbirdspot. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  5. ^ Nature episode "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air", 10 January 2010.
  6. ^ Natural World Episode 5. "Attenborough's Ark: Natural World Special", 9 November 2012

External links[]

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