What is the scientific name for the Blue Throated Hillstar?

The scientific name for the Blue Throated Hillstar is Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus. The Blue Throated Hillstar is a species of hummingbird found in South America.

Quick Facts about the Blue Throated Hillstar

• Scientific name: Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus
• Other common names: Blue-throated Hillstar, Colibrí Gorgiazul
• Taxonomy:
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves
  • Order: Apodiformes
  • Family: Trochilidae
  • Genus: Oreotrochilus
  • Species: O. cyanolaemus
• Native habitat: Andes mountains in Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina

Overview of the Blue Throated Hillstar

The Blue Throated Hillstar is a small hummingbird, measuring only about 7-8 cm in length. As the name suggests, the male has an iridescent blue throat patch, while the female has a white throat with some blue spots. Other distinctive features include a long black bill and vibrant green plumage on the head, back, and belly.

This species is found in the high Andes mountains at elevations between 3000-5000 meters. It inhabits alpine meadows, scrublands, and grasslands. The Blue Throated Hillstar has adapted to survive the cold temperatures and thin air of the high altitudes. Its wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing it to hover in place while feeding on nectar from flowers.

Breeding occurs between October and March. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and feathers, binding it together with spider webs. She lays two white eggs and incubates them for about 16-19 days until hatching. The chicks are fed regurgitated food by both parents and fledge after 3-4 weeks.

The Blue Throated Hillstar feeds mainly on nectar from flowering plants such as red-hot pokers and firebushes. It also feeds on small insects like flies, beetles, and spiders. The long bill allows it to access nectar from long tubular flowers.

This species faces some threats from habitat loss and degradation. However, its remote mountain habitat provides some protection and it remains relatively abundant throughout its range. The IUCN Red List classifies the Blue Throated Hillstar as a species of Least Concern.

Scientific Classification and Taxonomy

The Blue Throated Hillstar belongs to the large order Apodiformes, which includes all swift and hummingbird species. It is placed in the family Trochilidae, which comprises all hummingbirds. There are over 330 species in this diverse family found throughout the Americas.

There are several ways in which the Blue Throated Hillstar is classified:

• Kingdom: Animalia (all animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
• Class: Aves (birds)
• Order: Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds)
• Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
• Genus: Oreotrochilus (5 species)
• Species: O. cyanolaemus

It was originally described in 1875 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The genus name Oreotrochilus refers to the mountain habitat, coming from the Greek “oros” for mountain and “trochilus” meaning swallow. The specific epithet “cyanolaemus” is derived from the ancient greek “kyanos” meaning blue and “laimos” for throat.

There are five species classified in the genus Oreotrochilus. In addition to the Blue Throated Hillstar, these include:

• Green-headed Hillstar
• Black-breasted Hillstar
• Perija Hillstar
• Santa Marta Hillstar

All species in this genus are high elevation hummingbirds endemic to the Andes mountains in South America. They are closely related and occupy similar habitats.

Identification and Field Marks

The Blue Throated Hillstar has some distinctive features which help identify it in the field:

• Size: Small, about 7-8 cm long
• Shape: Round, compact body shape typical of hummingbirds
• Bill: Long, black, and slightly decurved bill
• Plumage:
  • Males have an iridescent blue throat patch
  • Females have a white throat with some blue spots
  • Green plumage on head, back, and underparts
  • White tips on outer tail feathers
• Behavior: Fast and agile flight, hovers while feeding on nectar
• Habitat: Found in Andean highlands above 3000m elevation
• Range: Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina

The blue throat of the male and its mountain habitat distinguish it from other hummingbird species that may overlap in parts of its range. The female Blue Throated Hillstar could potentially be confused with other green-backed hillstars, but the white throat with blue spots and high elevation range help confirm the identification.

Geographic Range and Habitat

The Blue Throated Hillstar is found in South America in the Andes mountains of:

• Bolivia
• Peru
• Chile
• Argentina

This species occurs at high elevations between 3000-5000 meters in the puna and alpine zones. Its habitat includes:

• Alpine grasslands
• High elevation scrublands
• Edges of mountain forests

Within this mountain habitat, the Blue Throated Hillstar frequents areas with flowering plants that provide nectar, such as firebush and red-hot poker plants. It is found year-round in the alpine areas which provide the right mix of food sources and shelter.

Behavior and Diet

The Blue Throated Hillstar displays behavior that is typical of hummingbirds. Some key aspects include:

• Flight: Flies swiftly and can hover in mid-air by rapidly beating its wings up to 80 times per second.
• Feeding: Feeds on nectar from flowers using its long bill to access the nectar. Also eats small insects.
• Aggressive: Males are territorial and aggressive, defending flower patches to access nectar.
• Vocalizations: Male courtship displays involve aerial pursuits and high-pitched chipping vocalizations.
• Migration: Considered resident in its habitat and does not migrate significant distances.

The diet of the Blue Throated Hillstar consists mainly of nectar and insects:

• Nectar: Feeds on nectar from hummingbird-pollinated flowers of firebush, red-hot poker, and other mountain plants.
• Insects: Also eats small insects like flies, beetles, and spiders to obtain protein.

Its long, slender bill allows it to access nectar from tubular flowers. The Blue Throated Hillstar plays an important role as a pollinator of alpine flowers in its delicate ecosystem.

Breeding and Nesting

The breeding season of the Blue Throated Hillstar occurs between October and March. Some key aspects of its breeding biology include:

• Males perform courtship displays, flying in loops and diving while making high-pitched chipping sounds.
• The female builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and feathers, binding it with spider webs.
• Nest placement is on a rocky ledge, tree branch, or root mass, sheltered under vegetation.
• Clutch size is two white eggs which are incubated by the female for 16-19 days.
• Both parents feed the chicks regurgitated food items.
• Chicks fledge after 3-4 weeks, reaching independence soon after.

Here is a table summarizing the nesting and breeding characteristics:

The Blue Throated Hillstar breeds at a relatively slow pace compared to other smaller hummingbirds. This is likely an adaptation to the harsh environment and limited resources of the high Andes habitat.

Conservation Status

The Blue Throated Hillstar is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It has a relatively stable population trend and occupies a large geographic range. However, some key points regarding its conservation include:

• Precise population size is unknown but it is described as relatively common.
• Remote habitat provides protection from major threats.
• Some local habitat degradation from grazing animals and mining activities.
• Climate change may alter high elevation habitat in the long-term.

More research and population monitoring are needed to detect any declines in the species. Providing protection to high Andean ecosystems will benefit the Blue Throated Hillstar and many other endemic bird species.

Conclusion

The Blue Throated Hillstar is a fascinating hummingbird adapted to the harsh alpine environments of the South American Andes mountains. Its scientific name Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus reflects the blue throat plumage of males and mountain home of this species.

Unique adaptations like hovering ability, territorial behavior, and nectar-feeding specialization allow it survive in cold, low-resource habitats above 3000 meters in elevation. Maintaining the fragile alpine ecosystems this species inhabits will be important for its long-term conservation.