Magnificent hummingbird
| Magnificent hummingbird | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Male | |
 |
|
| Female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Eugenes |
| Species: | E. fulgens |
| Binomial name | |
|
Eugenes fulgens (Swainson, 1827) |
|
The magnificent hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) is a large hummingbird. It is usually considerd the only member of the genus Eugenes. Some taxonomic authorities, such as the International Ornithological Committee, split the northern, nominate subspecies E. f. fulgens from the larger, southern race of Costa Rica and Panama, E. f. spectabilis as distinct species, in which case the nominate fulgens is renamd Rivoli's hummingbird, and spectabilis is named the admirable hummingbird. Most taxonomic authorities, including the American Ornithological Society, have not recognized the split.
The magnificent hummingbird breeds in mountains from the southwestern United States to western Panama. It inhabits the edges and clearings of montane oak forests from about 2000 m altitude up to the timberline. During the breeding season they live around ravines in mountain areas of southern Arizona and New Mexico. They feed in open meadows where flowers are abundant.
The magnificent hummingbird species ranges from 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) in length and weighs from 6 to 10 g (0.21 to 0.35 oz), with males typically a little larger than females. Of the hummingbirds found in the United States, the magnificent hummingbird is one of the two largest species, rivaled in size only by the blue-throated hummingbird. The black bill is long and straight to slightly curved. Both sexes look very dark unless the sun catches the iridescence of the plumage and the brilliant colours flash in the sunlight.
The adult male is green-bronze dorsally, becoming more bronzed on the black-tipped tail. The crown is violet, the throat gorget bright blue-green, and the rest of the head black apart from a white spot behind the eye. The chest is green-bronze and the belly grayish. The female is bronze-green dorsally and has a dull grey ventral colouring. There is a white stripe behind her eye. Immature birds are like the female, but darker and browner.
...
Wikipedia