![Tooth-billed Hummingbird](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Tooth-billed_Hummingbird.jpg)
The tooth-billed hummingbird (''Androdon aequatorialis'') is a species of
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...
from the family
Trochilidae. It is
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
within the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Androdon''. It is found in humid forests in western
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
, north-western
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...
(south to
Pichincha Province), and far eastern
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
(
Darién Province). While generally scarce, localized and associated with the highly threatened humid sections of the
Chocó, its range remains relatively large, and it is therefore considered to be of
least concern
A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...
by
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
.
Description
The tooth-billed hummingbird has a total length of c. , which includes the long, essentially straight
bill
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
of c. . Its
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
refers to the small tooth-like serrations on the inner part of the distal half of the bill. It is shiny green above with a
copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkis ...
y crown. The underparts are whitish streaked dusky. The rounded tail is greyish with a broad black subterminal band and white tips. There is a conspicuous white band on the rump. In males, the bill has a small hook at the tip and more prominent tooth-like spikes; their
plumage
Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...
color averages brighter overall than females. While the green upper parts of this species are
iridescent
Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfl ...
, its plumage is duller than that of most hummingbirds. Within its range, it is essentially unmistakable by the combination of the long, almost straight bill and the dark-streaked whitish underparts.
Habitat
The tooth-billed hummingbird is restricted to humid
primary forests and nearby
second growth
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds each ...
. It occurs up to an altitude of c. . In Ecuador, it is most frequent between , while it mainly occurs between in Panama, and up to in Colombia.
Behavior
Rather inconspicuous and generally poorly known. It is a swift flier. It forages from low levels to sub-
canopy, where it feeds on
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
from flowers of plant families such
Ericaceae and
Gesneriaceae
Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World (almost all Didymocarpoideae) and the New World (most Gesnerioideae), with ...
. Its main feeding strategy involves
trap-lining
In ethology and behavioral ecology, trap-lining or traplining is a feeding strategy in which an individual visits food sources on a regular, repeatable sequence, much as trappers check their lines of traps. Traplining is usually seen in species ...
. The serrated bill is also well adapted for catching small
spiders
Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species dive ...
and
insects, while the hooked tip of the males' bill is further suited for extracting prey from within rolled leaves and cavities. It has sometimes been seen rapidly
gleaning below large leaves, while flicking its tail.
Little is known about its breeding behavior, but individuals captured in Colombia in January–March have had enlarged
gonads, indicating that they were in breeding condition. In Ecuador, it has been reported that males gather in
leks
A lek is an aggregation of male animals gathered to engage in competitive displays and courtship rituals, known as lekking, to entice visiting females which are surveying prospective partners with which to mate. A lek can also indicate an avail ...
in February–May, which is unusual among members of the subfamily
Trochilinae, but frequent among the members of
Phaethornithinae. Its calls include a high-pitches ''tsit-tseé-tsu'' and penetrating ''cheet'' notes.
Taxonomy
The tooth-billed hummingbird's
taxonomic
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
position has been controversial, with some arguing that it should be placed in the subfamily
Phaethornithinae, and others that it, together with the two
lancebills, should be placed in their own small subfamily, Doryferinae. Today most authorities place it at the beginning of Trochilinae.
References
* Hilty, S., & W. Brown. 1986. ''A Guide to the Birds of Colombia.'' Princeton University Press, Princeton.
* Restall, R., C. Rodner, & M. Lentin. 2006. ''Birds of Northern South America''. Vol. 1 & 2. Helm, London. (vol. 1); (vol. 2)
* Ridgely, R., & J. Gwynne, Jr. 1989. ''A Guide to the Birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras.'' 2nd edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
* Ridgely, R., & P. Greenfield. 2001. ''The Birds of Ecuador - Field Guide''. Cornell University Press.
* Schuchmann, K. 1999. Androdon aequatorialis (Tooth-billed Hummingbird). Pp. 549 in: del Hoyo, J, A. Elliott, & J. Sargatal. eds. 1999. ''Handbook of Birds of the World.'' Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions.
* Skutch, Alexander F. ''The Life of the Hummingbird.'' New York: Crown, 1973
{{Taxonbar, from=Q143941
tooth-billed hummingbird
Hummingbird species of South America
Birds of the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
tooth-billed hummingbird
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot