Cometa Verdiazul
Long-tailed Sylph
Aglaiocercus kingii
Song
Long-tailed Sylph
Appearance: The Long-tailed Sylph is a medium-sized hummingbird, with males measuring 18 cm in length, including their long tail feathers, while females are shorter with less pronounced tails. Males have iridescent green bodies and long, forked blue tails. Their underparts are also a bright green, and they have a shimmering blue throat. Females are less colorful, with a more subdued green back, a white underbelly, and shorter tails with less iridescence. Both sexes have a straight, slender bill adapted for feeding on nectar.
Habitat: The Long-tailed Sylph is found at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 3,000 m. It inhabits humid montane forests, including cloud forests and forest edges. It is often seen in areas with abundant flowering plants.
Behavior: The Long-tailed Sylph feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants. It plays a crucial role in pollination. It consumes small insects and spiders to supplement its diet. Known for its agile and acrobatic flight, the Long-tailed Sylph is adept at hovering and can make quick, darting movements to catch insects or access flowers. Males are territorial and often engage in aerial displays to defend their feeding areas from other males.
Breeding: The breeding season varies depending on the location but occurs during the rainy season when food is abundant.
Females build small cup-shaped nests from plant fibers, moss, and spider webs, often on a horizontal branch or sheltered ledge. Two white eggs are laid, and the female is solely responsible for incubation and feeding the chicks.
Conservation Status: The Long-tailed Sylph is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
In Colombia, the Long-tailed Sylph is found in the Andes in the western, central and eastern mountain ranges. The species is common in suitable habitats within these regions. The Long-tailed Sylph is a hummingbird species with a wide distribution in Colombia, thriving in montane forest ecosystems and contributing significantly to the pollination of native plants.
Taxonomy
The Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Aglaiocercus
- Species: Aglaiocercus kingii
Vocalization
The vocalizations of the Long-tailed Sylph consist of a series of high-pitched, rapid, and often repetitive notes or chips. These sounds are used for communication and can vary slightly between individuals. The calls are used to establish territory, attract mates, and communicate with other sylphs. These vocalizations are an essential part of the sylph's behavior.
Purpose
Territorial Defense: Male Long-tailed Sylphs use their vocalizations to assert dominance over a territory, particularly one that contains valuable feeding resources like flowering plants. By vocalizing, they can deter other males from encroaching on their territory.
Mate Attraction: During the breeding season, vocalizations play a crucial role in attracting females. The males' long tail feathers are also used in courtship displays, and their calls can complement these visual signals.
Communication: Vocalizations are used for communication between individuals, including between mates and between parents and offspring. These calls can help maintain social bonds and coordinate activities like feeding and nesting.
The vocalizations of the Long-tailed Sylph are vital for their survival and reproductive success, serving multiple functions related to territory, mating, and social interaction.
