Flag sylph

Flag sylph

The body of the flag sylph(Ocreatus underwoodii), including tail feathers, is up to 15 cm long and 3.2 g in weight. The females (lower specimen) are somewhat smaller and lighter than the males. The plumage on the upper side and partly also on the underside is a shimmering green colour. The throat and breast can also be coloured white in some populations. The beak is remarkably short and straight for a hummingbird. The most impressive and at the same time name-giving feature, however, are certainly the two extremely elongated outer tail feathers of the males, which can be clearly seen in the upper specimen. These can reach a length of up to 7 cm and thus make up almost half of the total body length.

Nutrition

As with all hummingbirds, their diet consists mainly of flower nectar. The hummingbird either takes the nectar while hovering in front of the flower or holds on to the flower with its feet. The flag sylph also supplements its diet with various insects, which it mainly catches in flight.

Distribution

This species is only found in the north-west of South America, in a strip along the Andes.

Humid, tropical rainforests and mountain forests at an altitude of between 600 m and 4000 m above sea level form the preferred habitat of the flag sylph.

The breeding season of the flag sylph is between January and April. The tiny, cup-shaped nest is built at a height of 6-8 m from plant fibres. The clutch usually consists of 2 eggs, which are incubated exclusively by the female for around 16-17 days. The newly hatched young then need another 19 to 22 days until they are ready to fledge.

The population of the flag sylph is currently not endangered. It is quite common in its area of distribution and is well protected by many national parks and reserves.