Curve-winged sabrewing

The curve-winged sabrewing (Pampa curvipennis) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.

Curve-winged sabrewing
Pampa curvipennis

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Pampa
Species:
P. curvipennis
Binomial name
Pampa curvipennis
(Deppe, 1830)
Distribution map of Pampa curvipennis (left)

Taxonomy

Pampa curvipennis formerly included the wedge-tailed sabrewing (P. pampa) of the Yucatán and the long-tailed sabrewing (P. excellens) of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec under the English name wedge-tailed sabrewing.

Description

The curve-winged sabrewing is a large hummingbird with a long, wedge-shaped tail. Upperparts are green with a blue to violet-blue crown that blends into the green nape. It has a white spot behind its eyes and a dark gray cheek. Underparts are pale gray to whitish, often slightly darker laterally. The bill is long and ranges from straight to slightly decurved, and the lower mandible is pinkish at base.[2] The adult male is slightly larger than the female, but other than that sexes are similar.[2] Juveniles are similar to adults but duller in coloring.[2]

Distribution

This species can be found on Mexico's Gulf slope, from within 250 miles of the U.S. border in southern Tamaulipas to northern Oaxaca. It is unrecorded north of Mexico.[2] It is not known to migrate.[2]

Habitat

The wedge-tailed sabrewing resides in humid tropical forests, woodlands, and dense second growth, ranging from near sea level to 4500 feet above sea level. Its natural habitats include tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest and heavily degraded former forest.[2]

Behavior

The wedge-tailed sabrewing often forages along walls of vegetation at forest edges and on steep slopes.[2] Its flight style varies from the rapid wingbeats of typical hummingbirds to slower wingbeats like those of swifts. It is bold and curious, and often approaches humans.[2] It breeds from March to July, and its nest is a well-camouflaged cup attached to a horizontal branch.[2]

Vocalization

Calls include steady, persistent chipping and a shrill, nasal peek. The wedge-tailed sabrewing usually sings from dense vegetation, and its songs are complex and variable, usually including insect-like chips, squeaks, and squeals, followed by a series of excited warbled or gurgling notes.[2] Males sing year-round, sometimes in small groups. Some tail or wing movements are associated with perched singing displays.[2]

gollark: I can also do ARing, and faster.
gollark: It doesn't sound that dramatic.
gollark: There are never enough reds.
gollark: I'm tempted to just start incuhatching nocturnes in large quantities, but I'd inevitably run out of reds.
gollark: The nocturne wall stands still.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Campylopterus curvipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Williamson, Sheri L. (2001). Hummingbird of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-618-02496-4.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.