Chaetocercus astreans
Rumbito de Santa Marta
Santa Marta Woodstar
Song
Santa Marta Woodstar
Appearance: The Santa Marta Woodstar features iridescent green upperparts, a bright metallic blue crown, and a contrasting white throat. The underparts are shiny green, while its tail is forked and includes white tips. The females are similar in coloration but often has more subdued features. Females exhibit less iridescence and may have slight differences in tail structure.
Habitat: This hummingbird is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Key habitats include areas with abundant flowering plants, where it can regularly feed on nectar.
Behavior: The Santa Marta Woodstar feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers, often hovering in front of blooms. Its specialized bill allows it to access nectar efficiently. Males are highly territorial and engage in aggressive displays to protect their feeding territories from other hummingbirds and potential rivals. While mostly solitary, they can occasionally be seen in small groups when food resources are plentiful.
Breeding: Breeding occurs during the rainy season, which correlates with increased floral availability. Females build small cup-shaped nests in sheltered locations, often on tree branches or in dense vegetation. Females lay about 2 eggs per clutch and are solely responsible for incubation and rearing the young.
Conservation Status: The Santa Marta Woodstar is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
Magdalena Department: The Santa Marta Woodstar is found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in and around the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park. This park serves as a crucial habitat, providing the necessary montane forests and flowering plants essential for feeding and breeding.
Santander Department: While its population exists in Magdalena, there have been sightings in the northern parts of the Santander Department in high-altitude areas that are in close proximity to the Sierra Nevada.
Taxonomy
The Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Chaetocercus
- Species: Chaetocercus astreans
Vocalization
Territorial Calls: Males utilize vocalizations to establish and assert their territories, especially during the breeding season. These territorial calls can deter rival males and signal occupancy of feeding areas.
Contact Calls: They produce shorter, softer calls to maintain communication with other individuals, helping to keep groups cohesive in dense forest habitats where visibility is limited.
