Inca Coliblanco
White-tailed Starfrontlet
Coeligena phalerata
Song
White-tailed Starfrontlet
Appearance: Males have a bright, glittering emerald green plumage on the head and chest, transitioning to a mix of green and blue on the body. Females are less vivid, often displaying more muted green tones. Both sexes have white tail tips, providing a sharp contrast to their overall darker plumage. Straight and long, typical of hummingbirds.
Habitat: Inhabits montane cloud forests and their edges, usually found at elevations between 1,200 and 3,200 m. Prefers humid, dense forest areas where there is an abundance of flowering plants.
Behavior: Feeding on a variety of flowering plants. It may also capture insects in flight or glean them from foliage as a protein source. Agile and capable of rapid movements. They often hover while feeding and can perform complex aerial maneuvers. Males can be territorial, defending rich feeding areas from intruders.
Breeding: Breeding activities are not extensively documented but are believed to correspond with periods of peak floral abundance. Females construct small cup-shaped nests from plant fibers, moss, and spider webs located in sheltered spots. Usually lays two eggs per clutch.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
Found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. The species’ range is limited to this region, making it particularly vulnerable to habitat changes.
Taxonomy
The White-tailed Starfrontlet (Coeligena phalerata)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Coeligena
- Species: Coeligena phalerata
Vocalization
Chirp Calls: Short, high-pitched chirping sounds used for various forms of communication.
Trills and Buzzes: Rapid sequences of notes and buzzing sounds produced during flight or interactions with other birds.
Territorial Defense: Vocal calls are used to warn other hummingbirds to stay away from their feeding territory. Vocalizations signal the presence of the bird and its claim to a particular area. Males use their calls as part of courtship rituals to attract females.
Courtship Displays: Vocalizations accompany visual displays to impress potential mates.
Parental Communication: Calls are used by parents to communicate with their offspring.
Alert Signals: Alerting conspecifics to the presence of predators or dangers nearby.
