The grey-bellied comet (''Taphrolesbia griseiventris'') is a species of

hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...

in the family Trochilidae. It is found only in a few small areas of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are subtropical or tropical high-altitude

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

and rural gardens. It is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

Description

The grey-bellied comet is a large hummingbird with a long beak and a deeply forked tail, growing to . The upperparts are bronzy-green and the long green tail feathers have orangeish tips. The underparts are grey and the male has a blue throat. The tail of the female is shorter than that of the male. Both sexes have a small white spot behind the eye.

Habitat

The grey-bellied comet has a limited range which contributes to its currently being endangered. The bird has been found living in five separate, but close sites in north central Peru in the Andes mountains. The grey-bellied comet inhabits areas of steep, rocky, and dry slopes with some vegetation. The bird mainly lives at altitudes of above sea level.

Ecological role

The grey-bellied comet plays a similar role as other hummingbirds in pollinating woody shrubs and trees.

Population and conservation status

Estimates in 2012 for the grey-bellied comet put the population at around 375 to 1,499 individual birds. Habitat modification and loss are the largest contributing factor to the species declining population. Human modification to the habitat with agriculture is fragmenting and decreasing the already small portion of land the bird inhabits. The

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

has listed the bird as being "

Endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

References

External links

Image of Grey-bellied Comet - Taphrolesbia griseiventris
{{Taxonbar, from=Q249974 grey-bellied comet Birds of the Peruvian Andes Endemic birds of Peru grey-bellied comet Taxonomy articles created by Polbot