• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Difference between revisions of "Blue-tailed Hummingbird" - BirdForum Opus

m (fix link)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
A fairly typical ''Amazilia'' hummingbird in shape and structure. In indirect sunlight appears all dark, except for white thighs. Underparts and most of upperparts green. Rump purplish and tail deep blue throughout. Male ''A. c. guatemalae'' has a small rufous flash in the wings, which is reduced or absent in females. ''A. c. cyanura'' has a bold rufous patch over much of the wing in both sexes.
 
A fairly typical ''Amazilia'' hummingbird in shape and structure. In indirect sunlight appears all dark, except for white thighs. Underparts and most of upperparts green. Rump purplish and tail deep blue throughout. Male ''A. c. guatemalae'' has a small rufous flash in the wings, which is reduced or absent in females. ''A. c. cyanura'' has a bold rufous patch over much of the wing in both sexes.
The closely related [[Steely-vented Hummingbird]] to the south in [[Nicaragua]] and [[Costa Rica]] (where occasional records of Blue-tailed are made) lacks rufous in the wings. Hybrids with [[Berryline Hummingbird]] are reasonably common (only reported within the range of ''A. c. cyanura''), which have some blue and some rufous feathers in the tail.
+
The closely related [[Steely-vented Hummingbird]] to the south in [[Nicaragua]] and [[Costa Rica]] (where occasional records of Blue-tailed are made) lacks rufous in the wings. Hybrids with [[Berylline Hummingbird]] are reasonably common (only reported within the range of ''A. c. cyanura''), which have some blue and some rufous feathers in the tail.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Line 10: Line 10:
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
Two distinct subspecies are described (''A. c. guatemalae'' to the north and west and ''A. c. cyanura'' to the south and east), which may be sufficiently different to consider them as different species. However the almost complete lack of knowledge of the biology of both species makes the taxonomic status difficult to determine.
 
Two distinct subspecies are described (''A. c. guatemalae'' to the north and west and ''A. c. cyanura'' to the south and east), which may be sufficiently different to consider them as different species. However the almost complete lack of knowledge of the biology of both species makes the taxonomic status difficult to determine.
''A. c. cyanura'' often hybridizes with the closely related Berryline Hummingbird ''Amazilia beryllina''.
+
''A. c. cyanura'' often hybridizes with the closely related Berylline Hummingbird ''Amazilia beryllina''.
 
Formerly named ''Saucerottia cyanura''.
 
Formerly named ''Saucerottia cyanura''.
  

Revision as of 23:46, 13 April 2009

Amazilia cyanura

Saucerottia cyanura

Identification

A fairly typical Amazilia hummingbird in shape and structure. In indirect sunlight appears all dark, except for white thighs. Underparts and most of upperparts green. Rump purplish and tail deep blue throughout. Male A. c. guatemalae has a small rufous flash in the wings, which is reduced or absent in females. A. c. cyanura has a bold rufous patch over much of the wing in both sexes. The closely related Steely-vented Hummingbird to the south in Nicaragua and Costa Rica (where occasional records of Blue-tailed are made) lacks rufous in the wings. Hybrids with Berylline Hummingbird are reasonably common (only reported within the range of A. c. cyanura), which have some blue and some rufous feathers in the tail.

Distribution

Very limited distribution with the two subspecies located in two separate areas. A. c. guatemalae is found in a tiny area along the Pacific slope of Guatemala and the southern tip of Oaxaca in Mexico. A. c. cyanura is found in eastern El Salvador, southern Honduras (and a few scattered location further inland) and western Nicaragua.

Taxonomy

Two distinct subspecies are described (A. c. guatemalae to the north and west and A. c. cyanura to the south and east), which may be sufficiently different to consider them as different species. However the almost complete lack of knowledge of the biology of both species makes the taxonomic status difficult to determine. A. c. cyanura often hybridizes with the closely related Berylline Hummingbird Amazilia beryllina. Formerly named Saucerottia cyanura.

Habitat

Humid evergreen forest and edge, coffee plantations.

Behaviour

Tend to be found on fairly low vegetation either deep within forest or at forest edge. Sing from low bushes in open areas at forest edge. Several records from Costa Rica of the southern form A. c. cyanura suggest that it might be partially migratory.

External Links

A page on this species with photos can be found on http://tomjenner.com/mayanbirding/thebirds_blue_tail_humm.html

Back
Top