Red-tailed comet
| Red-tailed comet | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Sappho L. Reichenbach, 1849
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| Species: | S. sparganurus
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| Binomial name | |
| Sappho sparganurus (Shaw, 1812)
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| Synonyms | |
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Sappho sparganura | |
The red-tailed comet (Sappho sparganurus) is a medium-sized hummingbird found in the central Andes of Bolivia and Argentina.[2]
Description
The male has a spectacular, long, iridescent, golden-reddish tail and reaches 22 cm in length. The female has a shorter reddish-bronze tail and reaches 15 cm in length. It has a hoarse chattery call.[3]
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A male Red-tailed Comet in Cordoba, Argentina.
Habitat
Common to frequent in the woodlands and scrub typical of the dry Interandean valles extended up into Polylepis forests, and into the shrubby transition zones to high elevation puna or the moister cloud forests. Frequently around human habitation in agricultural areas, cities and towns.
Local names
In at least part of its range it is known in the local Quechua language as "Q'ori Kenti" ("golden hummingbird"). It is called the "picaflor cometa" in Spanish. The genus name refers to Sappho, an ancient Greek poet of Lesbos.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ BirdLife International (2004). InfoNatura: Birds, mammals, and amphibians of Latin America [web application] (version 4.1 ed.). Arlington, Virginia (USA): NatureServe. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
- ^ "Search results: Sappho sparganura". xeno-canto. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
External links
- Red-tailed Comet photos;
- Article w/RangeMaps InfoNatura NatureServe
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