Bahama woodstar
| Bahama woodstar | |
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| Species: | C. evelynae
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| Binomial name | |
| Calliphlox evelynae (Bourcier, 1847)
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Philodice evelynae | |
The Bahama woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae) is a species of hummingbird endemic of the Bahama Islands. It is named the "Hummer" by locals due to a distinct humming sound it makes while feeding [2].
Description
The Bahama woodstar is a small hummingbird, growing to be only about 8 to 9.5 cm (3.1 to 3.7 in) in length.[3] These birds weigh around 2.4 to 3 g (0.085 to 0.106 oz).[4] Their backs are green and gold, with olive-buff underparts, and flanks fading into white (males) or cinnamon (females). Wings are brown and their tails appear a blackish-purple [2]. Males have a fork-shaped tail while females display a more rounded tail with wider feathers. Males have bright purple iridescent gorgets lined with a white stripe, which dull out as breeding season ends. Females do not have the purple throat or white stripe [5]. Both males and females have black, slightly curved bills and black feet [2].
Distribution
Habitat
The Bahama woodstar is endemic to the Bahama Islands. They are found in many different habitats on some of the major islands except may be rare or absent where the Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii) also occurs.
Taxonomy
The Inagua woodstar, Calliphlox lyrura was formerly considered a subspecies. However, hummingbird species can be separated depending on morphological differences such as tail shape and presence or absence of iridescent feathers, both known to play a role in sexual selection [6]. It has a fully iridescent crown and a more lyre-shaped tail than the Bahama woodstar.
It does not migrate, but has been seen as a vagrant in SE Florida in the United States. In April 2013 a bird was seen for three days at a feeder in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[7]
Behaviour
Diet
Vocalizations
The Bahama woodstar has three typical vocalizations: "chips", scolding and song [5].
During flight and feeding Bahama woodstars will make a one syllable "chip" sound. The length of this call may vary, from a simple "chip" to a longer, repeated sequence of "chips". Other simple calls such as "spurts" by courting or fighting males, and "cheep" sounds from younglings have rarely been recorded. Scolding was recorded during Agonistic behaviour such as fighting and chasing. Scolding is a two syllable call, where the second syllable may be vocalized once or repeated after the first syllable. The frequency of both "chips" and scolding range from 7 to 9 Hz, compared to 1.5 to 3 Hz in Calliphlox lyrura.
Reproduction
Nesting is done in a small cup made of plant down, bark and cobwebs. The female lays 2 elliptical white eggs, which will incubate for 15–18 days. This hummingbird nests all year round.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ a b c Cory, C. B. (1890). The birds of the Bahama Islands : containing many birds new to the Islands, and a number of undescribed winter plumages of North American birds. Boston, U.S.A.: Estes & Lauriat.
- ^ [1]
- ^ CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
- ^ a b Feo, T. J., Musser, J. M., Berv, J., & Clark, C. J. (2015). Divergence in morphology, calls, song, mechanical sounds, and genetics supports species status for the Inaguan hummingbird (Trochilidae: Calliphlox evelynae lyrura). tauk The Auk, 132(1), 248-264.
- ^ Clark, C. J. (2010). The Evolution of Tail Shape in Hummingbirds. tauk The Auk, 127(1), 44-56.
- ^ [1]
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