Golden-bellied Starfrontlet

Goldbauchmusketier ( Coeligena bonapartei )

The Goldbauchmusketier ( Coeligena bonapartei ), sometimes called gold belly - Andean Hummingbird, a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has a large distribution area, which includes the South American countries Colombia and Venezuela. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The Goldbauchmusketier reaches a body length of about 10.9 inches and has a straight, narrow 30 -millimeter-long beak. The male has a glossy green crown, with the remainder of the crown is black. The upper part of the back radiating dark green and golden orange on the rump. Ring collar and chest glitter green. The back part of the underside of a golden shimmer fiery. The slightly forked tail is golden bronze. The rockers seem noticeably darker. The female has a bright green top, which is golden orange as the male rump. The underside is predominantly cinnamon the breast is crossed by green feathers. The side of the throat also show green speckles. On the belly there are fiery golden spots. The tail is bronze color with occasional brown yellow spots.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in moist forest edges in front at altitudes 1400-3200 meters. In Colombia, they are found in the Sierra de Perijá, in the eastern Andes of Boyacá Province as far as Fusagasuga in the province of Cundinamarca. In Venezuela, was observed on the connecting road between Mérida and La Azulita. In addition, you can discover it on the Sierra Nevada National Park for bird very interesting Humboldt way. Also on the road to Queniquea in the state of Táchira, it is relatively common.

Behavior

The hummingbird feeds on insects and hovering in front of tubular flowers outside of forests and shrubs of the mean stratification.

Subspecies

So far, two subspecies are known, which differ mainly by their coloring.

• Coeligena bonapartei bonapartei ( Boissonneau, 1840)
• Coeligena bonapartei Consita ( Wetmore & Phelps, Jr 1952)

Some authors see the gold Andean Hummingbird ( Coeligena eos ) ( Gould, 1848), a further subspecies Coeligena bonapartei eos. The South American Check -list Committee favored the Proposal ( # 139), the variant of another subspecies. Also the Grünmusketier ( Coeligena orina ) ( Wetmore, 1953) is considered by some authors as a subspecies Coeligena bonapartei orina. Here applies the South American Check -list Committee in its Proposal ( # 185 ) the opinion that it is a separate species.

Naming

The hummingbird was described by Auguste Boissonneau initially under the name Ornismia Bonapartei first time. Boissonneau devoted to scientific taxon Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte, whom he calls one of the most learned ornithologists of his time in his first description.