Grey-tailed mountaingem

The grey-tailed mountaingem (Lampornis cinereicauda), also variously spelled gray-tailed mountaingem, grey-tailed mountain-gem, or gray-tailed mountain-gem, is a species of hummingbird in tribe Lampornithini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Costa Rica.[3][4]

Grey-tailed mountaingem
Male
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Clade: Strisores
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
Species:
L. cinereicauda
Binomial name
Lampornis cinereicauda
(Lawrence, 1867)
Synonyms
  • Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda

Taxonomy and systematics

The grey-tailed mountaingem is treated as a species by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW). However, the North American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society and the Clements taxonomy treat it as a subspecies of the white-throated mountaingem (Lampornis castaneoventris).[3][4][5][6]

Description

Female

The grey-tailed mountaingem is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). It has a medium-length straight black bill, dark cheeks, and a white stripe behind the eye. Males have mostly dark bronzy green upperparts with an emerald green crown and a gray tail. Their chin and throat are white, the sides of the neck and upper breast bright green, and the lower breast and vent area dark gray. Females have entirely bright green upperparts and a gray tail. Their throat and belly are dark rufous and the undertail coverts are gray with white or buff edges.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The grey-tailed mountaingem is found only in the Cordillera de Talamanca of southern Costa Rica. It inhabits the interior, edges, and shrubby clearings of oak forest and also gardens in communities near the forest. In elevation it ranges from 1,500 m (4,900 ft) up to timberline.[7]

Behavior

Movement

The grey-tailed mountaingem moves to the lower part of its elevation range after breeding.[7]

Feeding

The grey-tailed mountaingem feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants. Males typically feed at epiphytes in the forest interior while females more often feed in shrubby areas. Males are territorial, defending flower patches. They are dominant over smaller hummingbirds and subordinate to larger ones like the fiery-throated hummingbird (Panterpe insignis). The species also feeds on small arthropods gleaned from foliage.[7]

Breeding

The grey-tailed mountaingem's breeding season spans from October to April. Its nest has not been described but is believed to be similar to that of its close relative the white-throated mountaingem sensu stricto. That nest is a cup of fine fibers with moss and some lichen on the outside. The incubation length and time to fledging are not known.[7]

Vocalization

The grey-tailed mountaingem makes high pitched calls described as "ziit or ziip" and also "a 'sputtery, bubbly' song".[7]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the grey-tailed mountaingem as being of Least Concern, though it has a small range and its population size and trend are unknown.[1] It is considered fairly common in the right habitat. However, "this hummingbird is potentially threatened by human activities" such as deforestation for timber and agriculture.[7]

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Grey-tailed Mountain-gem Lampornis cinereicauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22725806A94902641. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22725806A94902641.en. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2022). "Hummingbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 12.1. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. HBW and BirdLife International (2020) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world Version 5. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v5_Dec20.zip [.xls zipped 1 MB] retrieved 27 May 2021
  5. "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ Retrieved 25 August 2021
  7. Juárez-Jovel, R. C. (2020). White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.wtmgem1.01 retrieved 26 May 2022

Further reading

  • Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander F. (1990): A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
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