- Tufted Coquette
Taxobox
name = Tufted Coquette
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Trochiliformes
familia =Trochilidae
genus = "Lophornis "
species = "L. ornatus"
binomial = "Lophornis ornatus"
binomial_authority = (Boddaert,1783 )The Tufted Coquette (" Lophornis ornatus ") is a tiny
hummingbird that breeds in easternVenezuela ,Trinidad ,Guiana and northernBrazil . It is an uncommon but widespread species, which appears to be a local or seasonal migrant, although its movements are not well understood.This small
bird inhabits open country, gardens and cultivation. It is 6.6 cm long and weighs 2.3 g. The black-tipped red bill is short and straight.The male Tufted Coquette is a striking bird. It has a rufous head crest and a coppery green back with a whitish rump band that is prominent in flight. The forehead and underparts are green, and black-spotted rufous plumes project from the neck sides. The tail is golden rufous.
The female lacks the crest and plumes. She has green upperparts, except for the whitish tail band, and rufous underparts which become much paler on the belly. The tail is mostly bronze green with a dusky band and whitish tips to the feathers. Immature males are like the female, but the throat is whitish with fine dark spotting.
The female Tufted Coquette lays two eggs in a small cup nest made of plant down and placed on a branch.
Tufted Coquettes are tame and approachable. Their food is nectar, taken from a variety of flowers, and some small invertebrates. The small size and steady flight means that this hummer often resembles a large bee as it moves from flower to flower. The call of this species while feeding is a light "chik".
External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=3043 Tufted Coquette videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.fermatainc.com/tripdujour/imgwin/tufted_coquette_male.html Male Tufted Coquette]
* http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/photogallery - photographs of this and other hummingbird species
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/8607400.htm Stamps] (forGuyana ,Suriname ,Trinidad and Tobago )
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=tufted+coquette&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Tufted Coquette photo gallery] VIREO [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/species_image.php?species=Lophornis+ornatus Photo-High Res]References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5
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