Plain-capped Starthroat

Radio -throated Hummingbird

The radio -throated Hummingbird ( Heliomaster constantii ), sometimes also called Funkenkehlchen, a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a distribution area, which covers about 530,000 square kilometers in the Central American countries, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua and the United States. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The radio -throated Hummingbird reaches a body length of about 11.5 to 13 centimeters. The straight or sometimes slightly curved beak is 31-37 millimeters long. So that it is longer than the rest of the head. The tail reaches a length of 27-34 millimeters. The collar, which extends to the chin is rußgrau. In the lower third of the colors go on in a dark cherry or copper red. The upper part is inconspicuous green to olive - bronze. Then there are elongated white and black spots. The lower part is mouse- gray with matte bronze speckles. Only during the flight you can see the white flanking tufts. The wings are proportional to the tail relatively large. Males and females have made ​​no significant differences.

Behavior

The flight of the radio -throated hummingbirds is sent and is described as elegant. The slow wing beats go on skids. The hummingbird preferred sitting on high branches. Especially in the early hours of the radio hummingbird goes hunting for insects. Only irregular you can see the hummingbird nectar sources, especially on yam bean and agaves. The bird is relatively peaceful and does not defend its nectar resources. His nest he builds a cup of soft plants and spider webs. The exterior disguising with lichens and plant debris. His nest he builds preferably in the treetops. The breeding season extends over the period from January to June.

Habitat

You can find the radio -throated Hummingbird in desert scrub, tropical deciduous rainforest and near riverbanks. The bird wanders through various habitats especially after the breeding. He moves preferably at altitudes around 800 to 1000 meters above sea level. He is looking at like Ceiba, wool tree plants, Tabebuia and other trees. Occasionally one sees him at ground level heliconias.

Subspecies

So far, three subspecies are known:

• Heliomaster constantii constantii ( Delattre, 1843)
• H. c. leocadiae ( Bourcier & Mulsant, 1852)
• H. c. pinicola Gould, 1853

The subspecies H. c. surdus (van Rossem, 1934) is usually considered as an invalid taxon

The subspecies pinicola is found in northwestern Mexico. The range extends as far south in the state of Jalisco. The subspecies leocadiae is located in the west and southwestern Mexico and western Guatemala. From El Salvador to southern Costa Rica, you encounter the ssp. constantii.

Etymology and History of Research

Pierre Adolphe Delattre described the radio -throated Hummingbird under the name Ornismya Constantii. Only later did the species of the genus Heliomaster been assigned. This Greek word structure is made up of the words " helios μεταλλον " for " sun " and "Master μαστερ " for " seeker " zusammen.Der species name is Charles Contant (1820-1905) dedicated to a French collector and taxidermist. In " pinicola " is a Latin word formations from the words " pinus " for " pine " and " Cola, colere " for " residents who live, dwell ."