Golden starfrontlet


The golden starfrontlet or golden-tailed starfrontlet, is usually considered a subspecies of hummingbird endemic to Venezuela. It is often considered a subspecies of the golden-bellied starfrontlet, C. bonapartei.

Range and habitat

It is "fairly common" but local in "wet mossy montane forest and forest borders" in the Venezuelan Andes at altitudes from 1400 to 3200 meters. It migrates upward during the rainy season ; the time of its return migration is not known.

Description

In appearance it strongly resembles the golden-bellied starfrontlet, though it is 0.1 gram heavier at 6.6 g and has a bill that is 3 mm shorter at 30 mm. This species is more golden-bronze overall and has a mostly rufous tail and secondary wing feathers.

Behavior

The golden starfrontlet is "hyperactive" even for a hummingbird. Individuals occur at low and medium heights, flying from one flowering plant to another along their established paths or "trap-lines", seldom behaving territorially. They take nectar by hovering and reaching up with their bills into long-tubed flowers such as Centropogon, Fuchsia, and plants of the heath family. They also catch flying insects by "helicoptering" in mid-air, glean insects off leaves, and join mixed feeding flocks. They are quite willing to help mob small owls.

Systematics

The Handbook of the Birds of the World splits this species from the golden-belled starfrontlet on the basis of bill length and plumage. Others lump it with the golden-bellied on the basis of the latter's subspecies C. bonapartei consita, which is intermediate in these characters.