Dusky Starfrontlet

The Grünmusketier ( Coeligena orina ) is a rare hummingbird from the kind of wood nymphs ( Coeligena ). It is endemic to Colombia.

Description

The Grünmusketier was formerly considered a subspecies of the Goldbauchmusketiers ( Coeligena bonapartei ). Due to the morphological differences and the darker coloration however, it is now considered a separate species. It reaches a length of fourteen centimeters and a weight of seven grams. The male has a brilliant plumage. The coat is jet black. The back and wing-coverts are green. The upper back is dull black. The coloring on the lower back is green and comes in a bright green bright yellow rump and upper tail feathers about. The tail is green. Throat and breast are dark green and black approach. The center of the throat is characterized by a large bright blue spots. The head is jet black. The forehead is gleaming blue-green to golden green. The thin straight black bill is 33 mm long. The eyes are dark brown. The legs and feet are black. In the female head, mantle and wing-coverts are green. The feathers have black tips, giving the plumage a scaly appearance. Back area and throat are cinnamon beige. Between the yellow-brown area under the eyes and throat, a green line can be seen. Rump, tail and under tail-coverts are duller colored than the male. The belly is yellow-green, but duller colored than the male.

Habitat

The Grünmusketier inhabited the tree line between Páramo and elves forest and the adjacent moist forests at altitudes 3100-3500 m. Elven forests are cloud forests with gnarled, stunted trees covered with mosses and lichens.

Way of life

The Grünmusketier feeds on wasps, spiders, Diptera and flower nectar. Through its breeding biology is unknown.

Status

The Grünmusketier was discovered in 1951 by Melbourne Armstrong Carriker and described in 1953 by Alexander Wetmore. He was long known only from the type specimen until it was rediscovered in August 2004 by the Danish ornithologist Niels Krabbe in forest remnants on the slopes of Páramo Frontino and the Farallones del citara in northwestern Colombia. Its habitat covers an area of 25 km ². The region at the Páramo Frontino has rich gold, copper and zinc deposits, however, the political instability in the region has a depletion of resources have prevented. The area is currently unprotected and threatened by deforestation. In 2005, the Colombian conservation organization Fundacion ProAves declared 5000 morning moist forest on Páramo Frontino to bird sanctuary, which is, however, insufficiently protected. BirdLife International estimates the stock to less than 250 copies.