Bearded Mountaineer

Weißhalssylphe painted by John Gould

The Weißhalssylphe ( Oreonympha nobilis) or mountain nymph is a sailor bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). It is endemic to Peru. The stock is classified by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The Weißhalssylphe reaches a body length of about 14 to 17 cm, with the black beak ca represents 22 mm. The strongly forked ca 8.5 cm long tail of the male is bronze with white outer tail feathers and dark edges on the inner webs. The coloration of the head, including the outer area of ​​the throat is black bronze. The blackish cap is separated by a white band that runs from the nape to the chest. While the bronze-colored top is crossed by chestnut -colored spots, the middle region of the underside is almost white. The coloration of the long thin beard same throat is emerald green in the upper part down into a Violet with bruises over. The front top of the head and the skull are vilottblau, and this goes in the middle of the violet-black. The skull is lined by a brilliant blue line. The females are very similar, but have only a small fillet beard made ​​of white scales.

In young male birds of about 6.5 cm long tail is slightly shorter. The beak is yellow and the green cap looks dull. The skull is scaled. For this they have a lackluster earth-colored throat. At beak and the bridle it is decorated with a line consisting of white spots.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies have been described which differ in their coloration and their area of ​​distribution:

• Oreonympha nobilis nobilis ( Gould, 1869) nominate form occurs at altitudes 2500-3800 meters in the valley of the Urubamba and around the city of Cusco, as well as in parts of the valley of the Río Apurimac.
• Oreonympha nobilis albolimbata Berlioz, 1938., The front top of the head and the skull of the male are blue green with a white hem, which is interspersed with green speckles. In the female the gular scales go on to a bridle line that runs to the upper side of the head. This subspecies is represented by Cotaruse to Mutca at the outflow of the Apurimac and Yauli, Acoria and Licrray in the region of Huancavelica.

Behavior

Once other hummingbirds are near, they behave very irritated and submissive. If they sit on the branches, they often make the wrong tail upwards. Their food they receive from cacti, agaves, tobacco plants and eucalyptus. They buzz vertically before the flowers open and close the tail feathers. Occasionally they cling even with the nectar intake of the flowers.

Distribution and habitat

They occur in dry Andean valleys with bushy slopes and open forests. These forests consist of pepper trees, which belongs to the catalpa trees and melon plants Tecomas with many columnar cacti in between. In addition, you can watch with dense thorny bushes it in mixed Polylepis / Escallonia forests. Occasionally, they are also found in growing areas with eucalyptus. Very often they can be found on stand-alone rock.

Reproduction

It is believed that they breed in caves and crevices. The young are born in the period January to December to the world.

Vocalizations

Your reputation sounds like a squeaky Descending series that follows a strong chirping. This sounds like swee swee chew- chew- chew. Occasionally, they also give a sober Dzzrt of itself.

Etymology and History of Research

The natural history collector Henry Whitely imposed the type specimen, which John Gould used for its original description, in Tinta. The species is considered monotypic. Latest Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a close degree of relationship to helmet Hummingbird ( Oxypogon guerinii ) and the chestnut cap Glanzschwänzchen ( Chalcostigma ruficeps ). Since the chestnut cap Glanzschwänzchen no longer fits into the genus Chalcostigma, it might come in the future to a regrouping.

The term " Oreonympha " derives from the Greek words " oros " for " mountain " and " nymph " from for " nymph, young beauty ."

The epithet " noblis " comes from Latin and means " splendid, admirable, famous '. The word " albolimbata " is also of Latin origin and is composed of " albus " for " white " and " limbatus " seamed for " edged " together.