The tufted coquette (Lophornis ornatus) is a small hummingbird that is found in South America. This colorful bird lives in a variety of habitats across northern and central parts of the continent.
Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about the tufted coquette:
- Scientific name: Lophornis ornatus
- Average length: 7-9 cm
- Average weight: 5-6 g
- Wingspan: 10 cm
- Coloration: Green, blue, orange, white
- Diet: Nectar, small insects
Geographic Range
The tufted coquette is found across northern South America. Its range extends through:
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
Within these countries, the tufted coquette occupies both lowland and highland regions. It can be found from sea level up to elevations of 3000 m.
Habitat
The tufted coquette is quite adaptable and occupies a variety of habitat types. Some of the habitats it frequents include:
- Tropical rainforests
- Cloud forests
- Secondary forests
- Forest edges
- Parks and gardens
Key features the tufted coquette seems to require are a sufficient availability of nectar-producing flowers and some trees or shrubs for perching/nesting. It is often found in areas with a dense understory.
Nesting
The tufted coquette builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and other materials. The outer part of the nest is camouflaged with lichens and plant fragments. Nests are typically placed on a low, thin branch or vine stem.
Females lay two white eggs. They incubate the eggs alone for 15-19 days before they hatch.
Migration
The tufted coquette is mostly sedentary and does not migrate long distances. However, some populations may make seasonal movements up and down mountain slopes following the availability of flowers.
There is one subspecies in Peru and Bolivia that appears to be migratory. This population breeds in the Andes but migrates north to the Amazon basin in the winter.
Unique Adaptations
The tufted coquette has several unique adaptations that allow it to thrive:
- Small size: This tiny bird can hover and maneuver easily to feed from flowers.
- Long bill: The long, slender bill is perfectly shaped for accessing nectar from tropical flowers.
- Color vision: They see in color, including ultraviolet light, which helps them spot nectar-rich flowers.
- High metabolism: A very fast metabolism powers their wings to let them fly and hover continuously.
Behavior
The tufted coquette displays some interesting behaviors and traits:
- Males are highly territorial. They chase away intruders from their feeding territories.
- They have specialized tongue tips for lapping up nectar.
- To conserve energy at night, they go into a deep sleep state called torpor.
- They utilize a wide variety of blooming plants and corral relative species by flower height.
Diet
As you may have guessed, the tufted coquette subsists primarily on nectar from flowering plants. Some key nectar sources include:
Angel’s trumpet | Bromeliads |
Heliconias | Passionflowers |
Coral trees | Fuchsias |
To supplement its diet, the tufted coquette will also eat small spiders and insects. Prey is often caught while hovering.
Reproduction
The tufted coquette has an elaborate mating ritual. Here’s a look at their reproduction process:
- Males perform courtship flights and dive displays to attract females.
- Once paired, the male continues an acrobatic courtship dance.
- The female constructs a nest in about 5-10 days.
- She lays 2 tiny white eggs over 2-3 days.
- The female incubates the eggs for 15-19 days until they hatch.
- Both parents feed the chicks with regurgitated food.
- Young fledge at 20-26 days old.
Tufted coquettes likely mate multiple times in a single breeding season. They can raise up to two broods per year.
Species Status
The tufted coquette is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Some key facts about its population status include:
- Global population estimated at 500,000-5,000,000 individuals.
- Population remains stable and widespread.
- Not considered near threatened or vulnerable.
Habitat loss is the main threat this species faces. But currently its population numbers appear secure.
Interesting Facts
A few more interesting tidbits about the tufted coquette:
- Their name refers to their elaborate ornamental forehead tufts.
- They are aggressive defenders of flowering patches.
- New flowers can evolve specifically to match their unusual bill shape.
- Females are larger and have bigger tufts than males.
- The ink used to print money comes from their stomach oil secretions!
Conclusion
In summary, the vibrant tufted coquette lives across northern South America. It occupies a wide range of forest and garden habitats. Though small, this species exhibits outsized behavior from energetic territorial displays to elaborate courtship rituals. The tufted coquette’s adaptable nature and fondness for flower nectar have allowed it to thrive across much of the continent.