Bogotá sunangel
| Bogota sunangel | |
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| Species: | H. zusii
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| Heliangelus zusii Graves, 1993
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The Bogotá sunangel (Heliangelus zusii) is a species of hummingbird that is only known from one specimen. The hummingbird is a bright purple with black flight feathers and a bright green chin and crown. This bird has only been found in Colombia and is assumed to live in cloud forest between 1200 and 3400 meters. Most of its potential habitat is degraded, though the possibility that a population may still exist is feasible.
This hummingbird is known from a single skin purchased in Bogotá in 1909. Nothing more is known of the bird, and though the skin is most commonly thought to come from either the Eastern or Central Andes of Colombia, other specimens from Bogotá have come from as far away as Ecuador. Since the bird has not been seen alive, it is assumed to have a relict population if it still survives. Some have suggested that the bird is just a hybrid, though the skin is very distinct.
A recent genetic study found that it was in fact a valid species, and is probably extinct.[2]
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ Kirchman, J. J., Witt, C. C., McGuire, J. A. and Graves, G. R. 2009. DNA from a 100-year-old holotype confirms the validity of a potentially extinct hummingbird species. Biology Letters, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0545
- BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet: Heliangelus zusii. Downloaded from http://www.webcitation.org/5QE8rvIqH?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birdlife.org on 11/8/2007
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