Mexican Sheartail

Rose -throated Hummingbird star ( Doricha eliza )

The Rose -throated Hummingbird star ( Doricha eliza ) or sometimes Elisa Hummingbird is a species of bird in the family of hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ). The species has only a small area of ​​distribution in Mexico and is thus endemic. In the areas of distribution, there are again only small populations. The stock is by the IUCN as " Near Threatened " ( near threatened ) classified.

Features

The Rose -throated Hummingbird star reaches a body length of about 8.9 centimeters. The hummingbird is bronze brown. The male has an iridescent pink red gorget. The beak is long and curved. The long forked tail has black outer feathers pale cinnamon inside. This combination gives him a spotted expression. The female has no colored collar. Above the female is bronze. The tail is relatively short and the outer feathers are tan. Near the tail end by pulling a black band with small patches the springs.

Habitat

The Rose -throated Hummingbird star preferred the scrub near the coast. The hummingbird is found in central Veracruz and the northern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula. The population in Yucatán is found in a narrow, about one kilometer wide strip in an ecotone from mangroves and tropical deciduous forest. Comparatively often the bird in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, the biosphere reserve Celestun Biosphere Reserve and in Bocas de Dzilam de Bravo. The population in Veracruz is restricted to undisturbed, dry deciduous forests and overgrazed habitats to about 25 miles inland.

Behavior

The species feeds primarily on Morning Glories, acanthus and mallow. In addition, like the hummingbird arthropods. In Veracruz, the breeding season is in May. In Yucatan they nest from August to April. The nest, located in the usually two eggs, cup- shaped. The bird builds from compost, lichens and spider webs.

Subspecies

At the moment no subspecies of the Rose -throated Hummingbird star are known. The species is thus monotypic.