Blue-capped Puffleg

Eriocnemis glaucopoides, painted by John Gould

The Blue-fronted panties Hummingbird ( Eriocnemis glaucopoides ) or sometimes blue cap snow pants is a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a large distribution area, which includes the South American countries of Argentina and Bolivia. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The Blue-fronted panties Hummingbird reaches a body length of about 9.5 to 11 cm. The beak is about 16 mm long. The forked tail reaches a length of about 4.5 cm. The male has a bright pale blue forehead crown. Almost his entire rest of plumage is black glossy green. There are white tufts on the legs. The area around the cloaca is bluish purple. The top and Beinbäusche of the female are the same as in the male. The underside is shiny cinnamon to yellow-brown. Be distinct green speckles find on the sides and in the area around the cloaca.

Distribution and habitat

These hummingbirds move predominantly in dense bushes and in the lower Stratifikationsschichten of forest edges. They live on the edge of the cloud forests or forests with deciduous vegetation of mountain canyons. Here you can find them at altitudes 1500-2900 m. They are present on the wet slopes above the city of Cochabamba and the Yungas and valleys of Cochabamba Department in Bolivia. From there, their range extends into the province of Tucumán in northwestern Argentina.

Research History and naming

Used in the first description in the Magasin de Zoologie d' Orbigny and Lafresnaye the name Ornismya glaucopoides. Only later the species was categorized under the generic Eriocnemis. John Gould used in his work Family of Hummingbirds - Monograph of the Trochilidae (1849-1861) the trivial names D' Orbigny's Puff -leg and the associated scientific taxon Eriocnemis dorbignyi.