Scissor-tailed Hummingbird

Green chest nymph painted by John Gould

The green color chest nymph ( Hylonympha macrocerca ) or sometimes called wood-nymph, is a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a distribution area, comprising only about 375 square kilometers in the South American country of Venezuela. The stock is by the IUCN as " critically endangered " ( endangered ) classified.

Features

The male green chest nymph reaches a body length of about 19 centimeters, while the female is only about 11.5 inches long. The apex and middle part of the crown of the male is purple. The rest of the crown is black. The bodice shimmers dark green. The throat and the lower part shining emerald green and black on the belly. At the lateral edges denounce green spots. The very long forked tail is black violet. The outer feathers are much longer than the rest of the tail feathers. The female has a dark green shiny top. The lower part is white with green speckles. The breast is white only. The abdomen and the lower part of the wings are chestnut colored. The tail falls much shorter than the male. The inner green tail feathers have distally steel-blue marks. The outer feathers are cinnamon with subterminal dark sections and dirty - white patches.

Habitat

The habitat of the hummingbird is located in a subtropical zone. It moves along forest edges and clearings in the cloud forest at altitudes between 900 and 1200 meters. The hummingbird is endemic to the Paria Peninsula.

Behavior

The bird feeds in the primary forest preferably from the nectar of bromeliads as well as the resident insects. In secondary forest you see him on heliconia ( Heliconia aurea in particular ) as well as Costus.

Subspecies

So far, no subspecies are known. Therefore, the species is considered monotypic.

Etymology and History of Research

Even John Gould used today protonym Hylonympha macrocerca. The type specimen he received from Henry Whitely (1844-1893), who claimed that he would get this with a collection of other bellows from Brazil.

The term " Hylonympha " derives from the Greek words " Hyle ὕλη " for " forest " and " Nymph, νυμφή " for " nymph young beauty " from. The Greek epithet " macrocerca " is a Greek word formations from » macros μακρός " for " big, long " and " kerkos κέρκος " for " tail ."