Marvellous spatuletail

Marvellous spatuletail
Loddigesia mirabilis by John Gould
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Loddigesia
Bonaparte, 1850
Species: L. mirabilis
Binomial name
Loddigesia mirabilis
(Bourcier, 1847)

The marvellous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) is a medium-sized (up to 15 cm long) white, green and bronze hummingbird adorned with blue crest feathers, a brilliant turquoise gorget, and a black line on its white underparts. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Loddigesia. It is sexually dimorphic.

Distribution of Loddigesia mirabilis in Peru

A Peruvian endemic, this species is found on forest edges in the Río Utcubamba region. It was first reported in 1835 by the bird collector Andrew Matthews for George Loddiges, after whom the genus is named.

The marvellous spatuletail is unique among birds in having just four feathers in its tail. Its most remarkable feature is the male's two long racquet-shaped outer tail feathers that cross each other and end in large violet-blue discs or "spatules". He can move them independently.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and limited range, the marvellous spatuletail is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

In 2006, American Bird Conservancy provided Peruvian conservation partner ECOAN with support to sign a conservation easement with the Pomacochas Community to protect and manage about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of significant habitat for the marvelous spatuletail hummingbird. Over 30,000 saplings of native trees and bushes have been planted there for the marvelous spatuletail. This conservation easement is the first of its kind in Peru.

The marvellous spatuletail has been featured on the PBS TV series Nature[2] and the BBC TV series Natural World.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Loddigesia mirabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Nature episode "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air", 10 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Natural World Episode 5. "Attenborough's Ark: Natural World Special", 9 November 2012
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