Brown Inca

Brown Andean Hummingbird

The brown Andean Hummingbird ( Coeligena wilsoni ) or sometimes Königsmusketier is a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a large distribution area, which covers about 34,000 square kilometers in the South American countries of Colombia and Ecuador. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The brown Andean hummingbird reaches a body length of about 10.9 centimeters. The slender straight beak is about 33 millimeters long. In the field of bird has a predominantly dark brown. The upper part of the back is copper-red and olive downwards. The color of the lower part is a dull brown. In between there is neck on a amethystischen spots. Side of the chest are white polka dots. The fork tail is bronze. In the female the breast stain runs one size smaller than the male.

Habitat

The bird preferred wet mountain forest or dense forest edges. You meet the hummingbird at altitudes 1000-1300 meters. He rarely was observed in higher or lower levels.

Behavior

The brown Andean hummingbird like moves deep in the forest or dense subsoil. His food he relates from tubular flowers. He is more of a loner. He avoids other hummingbird species and is often surprisingly tame.

Subspecies

At the moment no subspecies of the brown Andean hummingbird are known. Therefore, the species is considered monotypic.

Etymology and History of Research

Pierre Adolphe Delattre and Bourcier Jules Brown described the Andean hummingbird under the name Trochilus Wilsoni. The type specimen came from the area around Juntas near San Buenaventura in the former Viceroyalty of New Granada. Later, the species of the genus Coeligena been assigned. This name derives from the Latin words " coelum or caelum " from for "heaven" and " genus " for " descendant ". The species is dedicated to the businessman and amateur ornithologist Thomas Bellerby Wilson (1807-1865) of Philadelphia.