Flying scale throated hermit, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The scale-throated hermit (Phaethornis eurynome) is a species in the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. It is found in the Atlantic forest in north-eastern Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay. This comparatively large hummingbird, which is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome, is easily identified within its range by virtue of it being the only larger, predominantly green and gray-plumaged hermit, with a rather long, decurved, bill. The Scale-throated Hermit inhabits the understory of both lowland and highland forests, as well as old second growth, from southeast Brazil (as far north as southern Bahia) to eastern Paraguay and northeast Argentina, and is recorded at 2250 m at least. It feeds, like most hermit hummingbirds, by trap-lining, although some arthropods are also taken, and the species will periodically also visit feeders to take ‘artificial’ nectar. This hermit is tolerably common in most parts of its range. The Scale-throated Hermit looks similar to the Pale-bellied Hermit, (Phaethornis anthophilus) found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. The Scale-throated Hermits weigh on average 4 grams or 0.14 oz. Its plumage is mostly green and coppery brown. It has a dark band from its eyes down to its throat contrasting against the white stripe right below. Its most […]

Female Brazilian Ruby feeding on nectar, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The Brazilian ruby (Clytolaema rubricauda) is a species of hummingbird found in forest edge, second growth, gardens and parks in eastern Brazil. It is the only species placed in the genus Clytolaema. Although sometimes placed in the genus Heliodoxa, with the brilliants, the Brazilian Ruby is more typically treated as the sole member of a monotypic genus, Clytolaema, one of a great many hummingbird genera described by John Gould. It is common and among the species regularly seen at hummingbird feeders within its range. It is a relatively large hummingbird. Both sexes of this hummingbird are attractive and distinctive. Males are primarily clad in deep green, with a brilliant deep red throat patch, a small but obvious white postocular spot, browner wings, and a bright red tail, while females share the spot behind the eye and the tail color of the male, but are otherwise rich orange over the entire underparts and on the rump. The male is overall green with a coppery back and rump, a coppery-rufous tail and, as suggested by its common name, a highly iridescent ruby throat that can appear black from some angles. Females are green above and cinnamon below. Both sexes have a white […]

Close up of a saffron toucanet, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

The saffron toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found in the Atlantic Forest in far north-eastern Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay. It is a relatively long-tailed toucan with a total length of 35–40 cm (14–16 in). As suggested by its common name, it is, uniquely among toucans, overall saffron yellow. The back and tail are darker, more olive in color. The rump, ocular skin and patches on the basal half of the otherwise greenish-horn bill are red. The iris is pale yellowish. This species is dimorphic, meaning that males and females have distinguished looks from each other. The adult male has a golden head and breast, olive mantle (the wings, shoulder feathers and back) and red rump. They have a modestly sized bill, with green, grey blue, and yellowish-grey color all along it. Adult females are similar to the male but have more olive and less gold coloration; they also have a shorter bill. A young toucanet is mostly olive and grey colored, with brown eyes and a blotchy bill. The saffron is a large-gape frugivore. Due to their nature, they are especially crucial for plants with larger seeds to disperse themselves to […]

Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

  The chestnut-bellied euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis) is a species of bird in the family Fringillidae. It was formerly placed with the related Thraupidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The black-throated euphonia (“Euphonia vittata”) is now thought to be a hybrid between the chestnut-bellied euphonia and the orange-bellied euphonia. The Chestnut-bellied Euphonia forms a superspecies with the Golden-sided Euphonia; both species possess golden feather tufts on their shoulders and are distinguished by the belly color, which is black in Golden-sided. As the name implies, euphonias are good singers. Chestnut-bellied Euphonia is quite an exception to the name, since its vocal repertoire seems to be largely made up by a series of harsh notes resembling the calls of allied species. The bulk of its distribution is encompassed by the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. It is not known to migrate and is commonly encountered in mixed species flocks together with Green-throated, Golden-rumped, Violaceus, and Purple-throated Euphonias. The diet of chestnut-bellied euphonia includes Small fruits, including those of melastomes, epiphytes, epiphytic cacti, Cecropia, palms, and Solanum. Not […]

Brazilian ruby male showing its iridescent throat, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

  The Brazilian ruby (Clytolaema rubricauda) is a species of hummingbird found in forest edge, second growth, gardens and parks in eastern Brazil. It is the only species placed in the genus Clytolaema. Although sometimes placed in the genus Heliodoxa, with the brilliants, the Brazilian Ruby is more typically treated as the sole member of a monotypic genus, Clytolaema, one of a great many hummingbird genera described by John Gould. It is common and among the species regularly seen at hummingbird feeders within its range. It is a relatively large hummingbird. Both sexes of this hummingbird are attractive and distinctive. Males are primarily clad in deep green, with a brilliant deep red throat patch, a small but obvious white postocular spot, browner wings, and a bright red tail, while females share the spot behind the eye and the tail color of the male, but are otherwise rich orange over the entire underparts and on the rump. The male is overall green with a coppery back and rump, a coppery-rufous tail and, as suggested by its common name, a highly iridescent ruby throat that can appear black from some angles. Females are green above and cinnamon below. Both sexes have a […]