Grey-bellied Comet

Grey-bellied Comet
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Taphrolesbia Simon, 1918
Species:	T. griseiventris
Binomial name
Taphrolesbia griseiventris Taczanowski, 1883

The Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found only in Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Habitat

The Grey-bellied Comet has a lives within a very small habitat, which contributes to its currently being endangered. The bird has been found living in five separate, but close sites in north central Peru in the Andes mountains. The Grey-bellied Comet inhabits areas of steep, rocky, and dry slopes with some vegetation. The bird lives at mainly altitudes of 2,750 to 3,170 meters above sea level.

Ecological Role

The Grey-bellied Comet plays a similar role as the hummingbird in pollinating woody shrubs and trees.

Population and conservation status

Current population estimates for the Grey-bellied Comet are around 413 to 826 individual birds. Habitat modification, and loss are the largest contributing factor to the species declining population. Human modification to the habitat with agriculture is fragmenting and decreasing the already small portion of land the bird inhabits.

References

• BirdLife International 2004. Taphrolesbia griseiventris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
• BirdLife International 2008. Taphrolesbia griseiventris. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 01 December 2010.
• "Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) - BirdLife Species Factsheet." BirdLife International. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=2070.

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet.