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Photo: © Andres Vasquez Noboa eBird S50429001 Macaulay Library ML 262855041
bronzy-inca

Bronzy Inca

Coeligena coeligena
Inca Bronceado
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Song

Bronzy Inca

Appearance: The Bronzy Inca is a medium-sized bird, measuring 11.4 cm in length. This bird has a bronzy or coppery sheen on its plumage. The upperparts are dark with a metallic bronze or greenish hue, while the underparts can vary from grayish to whitish with some iridescence. It has a long, straight bill adapted for feeding on nectar.
Habitat: The Bronzy Inca is found at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,700 m above sea level. It inhabits montane forests, cloud forests, and edges of humid forest areas. It can also be seen in secondary growth and forested ravines.
Behavior: The Bronzy Inca feedson nectar from a variety of flowering plants. It consumes small insects and spiders for protein. Males are known to be territorial, often defending feeding areas from other hummingbirds. It exhibits agile flight, capable of hovering and rapid maneuvers typical of hummingbirds.
Breeding: The Bronzy Inca builds a small cup-shaped nest, usually placed on a branch or in a sheltered location within its habitat. The female lays two white eggs, which she incubates alone. The incubation period and fledgling details are similar to other hummingbirds with chicks being dependent on the mother for feeding.
Conservation Status: The Bronzy Inca is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Distribution

The Bronzy Inca is found only along the Andes from the southwestern regions to Antioquia and Santander regions of the country. It is present in several Colombian departments that contain Andean mountain ranges. Not reported in the Caribbean and eastern parts of Colombia.

Taxonomy

The Bronzy Inca (Coeligena coeligena)
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves (Birds)
  • Order: Caprimulgiformes
  • Family: Trochilidae
  • Genus: Coeligena
  • Species: Coeligena coeligena

Vocalization

The Bronzy Inca is a species of hummingbird found in the Andean regions of Colombia. The Bronzy Inca is known for its vocalizations, which are used for communication and territorial defense.
The vocalizations of the Bronzy Inca are a series of high-pitched, rapid, and repetitive notes or chips which vary in intensity and frequency depending on the context, such as attracting a mate or warding off intruders from their territory. While their calls are not as complex as some songbirds, they are an important aspect of their behavior and ecology.
Bronzy Incas produce mechanical sounds with their wings during flight which can also play a role in communication.