COT/NGA 10 The hummingbirds of Narino, Colombia
Paul G. W . Salaman and Luis A. Mazariegos H.
El departamento de Narifio en el sur de Colombia expande seisAreas de Aves Endemicas y contiene una extraordinaria concentraci6n de zonas de vida. En afios recientes, el 10% de la avifauna mundial ha sido registrada en Narifio (similar al tamafio de Belgica) aunque ha recibido poca atenci6n ornit6logica. Ninguna familia ejemplifica mas la diversidad Narinense coma los colibries, con 100 especies registradas en siete sitios de facil acceso en Narifio y zonas adyacentes del Putumayo. Cinco nuevas especies de colibries para Colombia son presentadas (Campylopterus uillauiscensio, Heliangelus strophianus, Oreotrochilus chimborazo, Patagona gigas, y Acestrura bombus), junta con notas de especies pobremente conocidas y varias extensiones de rango. Una estabilidad regional y buena infraestructura vial hacen de Narifio un "El Dorado" para observadores de aves y ornit6logos.
Introduction Sapphire H. grayi of the arid highland Colombia's southern Department ofNarifio covers intermontane valleys of Cauca and Narifio (EBA c.33,270 km2 (similar in size to Belgium or one quar 039), and northern Ecuador. ter the size of New York state) from the Pacific coast Between the Pacific coast and wet foothill for to lowland Amazonia and spans the Nudo de los est at El Diviso, at 660 m (km 100 on the highway), 5 Pastas massif at 4, 760 m . Six Endemic Bird Areas 16 species of hummingbird have been recorded. At (EBAs 39-44)9 and a diverse range of life zones, km 92 (01°25'N 78°14'W, at 583 m) a trail leaves from arid tropical forest to the wettest forests in the roadside for Pueblo Nuevo village, transecting the world, are easily accessible. Several research a mosaic of secondary and primary forest. Species ers, student expeditions and birders have visited here include: Green Thorntail Popelairia conversii, Narifio and adjacent areas of Putumayo since 1991, Blue-chested Hummingbird Amazilia amabilis, making several notable ornithological discoveries Purple-chested Hummingbird A. rosenbergi (an including a new species-Chaco Vireo Vireo altitudinal extension of 380 m), Green-crowned masteri6- and the rediscovery of several others, e.g. Brilliant Heliodoxajacula (range extension within Plumbeous Forest-falcon Micrastur plumbeus, the Colombian Pacific), and Tooth-billed Humming Banded Ground-cuckoo Neomorphus radiolosus and bird Androdon aequatorialis. This bizarre species 7 Tumaco Seedeater Sporophila insulata • In recent is commonly seen flycatching in small clearings in years, 950 bird species have been recorded in primary forest at 500 m. 7 Narifio • Over 1,200 of the 1,865 bird species known At 1,100-1,500 m, the Reserva Natural Rio from Colombia7 occur in Narifio based on histori Nambi (reserve cabin at 01°17'N 78°04'W, at 1,400 2 cal records and distributional data ·3. m) is 130 km from Tumaco and encompasses some No group typifies Narifiense avian diversity of the world's wettest pluvial premontane forest more than hummingbirds, with no less than 100 with 7,000 mm rainfall per annum°. Much primary species recorded in the region (Appendix 1), al forest is still standing in the Rio Nambi watershed though 10 species have not been recorded in the and an exceptional 27 species of hummingbird past two decades. This paper summarises this di occur, including a rich assemblage of lowland versity at seven localities in Narifio and adjacent a nd premontane taxa, e.g. White-whiskered border areas of Putumayo (see Fig. 1) as an exam Phaethornis yaruqui and Tawny-bellied Hermits P. ple of general avian richness in the department. syrmatophorus are sympatric at c.1,200 m. Signifi cantly, five of the 10 hummingbird endemics to EBA Hummingbird distributions 041 are resident at Rio Nambi: Purple-bibbed Commencing on the Pacific coast, a recently com Whitetip Urosticte benjamini, Empress Brilliant pleted highway links the port of'fumaco with Pasto Heliodoxa imperatrix, Brown Inca Coeligena and Ipiales in the Andes, and passes through many wilsoni, Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua outstanding ecosystems. Humboldt's Sapphire jardini and Violet-tailed Sylph Aglaiocercus Hylocharis humboldtii-recently elevated to spe coelestis. The last-named species is the most com cies status4-is restricted to coastal mangroves mon interior forest species from mist-net samples, around Tumaco and isolated from Blue-headed representing 12% of almost 7,000 captures during
30 COTINGA 10 The hummingbirds of Nariiio, Colombia
0 miles 25 ~ · .... ' ' ' -·-·-· PACIFIC COASTAL LOWLANDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
' ·- ·-·- · ..... AMAZON IA
To Quito -'-·- ·- ·- ·'
Figure I. Map of Nariiio and adjacent Putumayo showing the position of the seven birding localities mentioned in the text (see also the site key to Appendix I).
18 months. In addition to resident species, a number woodstar over three days as it frequently fed within of others are present seasonally, particularly in 10 m of the cabin balcony. It was often seen near December-June, including Tyrian Metaltail the noticeably larger and distinctive female of Metallura tyrianthina (1 , 150 m), Hoary Puffleg Philodice mitchellii, although the size difference Haplophaedia lugens (a small influx in remote pri was accentuated by the extremely short rounded mary forest at 1,500 m in April 1996), White-booted tail of A. bomb us, which is not cocked in flight as in Racket-tail Ocreatus underwoodii and Purple mitchellii. The flight action of A. bomb us is distinc throated Woodstar Philodice mitchellii. Androdon tive, being characteristically slower and the bird aequatorialis ascends to these cooler premontane almost appearing to drift aimlessly between flow forests in August-November, when it has been ers versus the decisive manoeuvering of mitchellii. found at 1,200 m. The plumage characteristics conformed to A. Occasional sightings at Rio Nambi have in bomb us, with rich cinnamon-buff flanks fading on cluded Wedge-billed Hummingbird Augastes the belly and chest, unlike the white underparts of geoffroyi (five records at 1,250 m), Andean Emer Esmeraldas Woodstar A. berlepschi, which is en ald Amazilia f ranciae (range extension3) and demic to lowland western Ecuador, and without the Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeti (once rufous rump band of Gorgeted Woodstar A. near Junin3). However, the most significant record heliodor2·3 found on the eastern slope of the Andes. was a female Little Woodstar Acestrura bombus, This detailed sighting of A. bombus is the first present from 2-4 July 1996 (coinciding with the record for Colombia, and an important northerly start of the dry season) at 1,400 m by the reserve range extension for this threatened species, previ cabin. The bombus was accompanied by an abnor ously known only from north Ecuador south to mally high concentration of resident species and north-west Peru. seasonal visitors such as Philodice mitchellii, The wet upper premontane and lower montane Ocreatus underwoodii and Popelairia conversii, all cloud forests ofReserva Natural La Planada, which feeding on Miconia pilgeriana (Melastomataceae) range from 1, 700-2,250 m (reserve headquarters bushes in full flower along the forest edge. Louise at 01°09'N 77°58'W, at 1,860 m) are easily access Augustine obtained prolonged views of this tiny ible from Ricaurte on the Tumaco-lpiales highway.
31 COT/NGA 10 The hummingbirds of Nariiio, Colombia
2
I Hoary Puffleg Haplophaedio lugens (Luis A. Mazariegos) 2 Male Velvet-purple Coronet Boissonneaua jordini (Paul Salaman) 3-4 Tooth-billed Hummingbird Androdon aequatorialis (Paul Salaman) 5-6 White-tipped Sicklebill Eutoxeres oquilo (Paul Salaman) 7 Male Green-crowned Woodnymph Tha/uronia fannyi (Paul Salaman) 8 Male Wedge-billed Hummingbird Augostes geoffroyi (Paul Salaman)
32 COTINGA 10 The hummingbirds of Nariiio, Colombia
Here 26 species have been recorded with the hum Buff-winged Starfrontlet Coeligena lutetiae, Moun mingbird fauna containing characteristics of the tain Avocetbill Opisthoprora euryptera, Viridian montane zone, and 10 additional species including Metaltail Metallura williami, Rainbow-bearded three violetears Colibri spp., Buff-tailed Coronet Thornhill Chalcostigma herrani and Purple-backed Boissonneaua flauescens and Green-throated Sylph Thornhill Ramphomicron microrhynchum. Paramo Aglaiocercus emmae (considered a separate species above 3, 700 m on Volcan Chiles has not been thor from east Andean slope kingi). Several unconfirmed oughly investigated, but is strongly suspected to sightings of Gorgeted Sunangel Heliangelus hold Blue-mantled Thornhill Chalcostigma stanleyi, strophianus exist from the site. Significantly, the following sightings just over the Ecuadorian bor abundance levels of many species recorded on both der, on Paramo El Angel in 19824, and is a potential reserves are inversely related, e.g. EBA 041 addition to the Colombian bird list. endemics found commonly at Rio Nambi, such as On 12 July 1991, a pair of Ecuadorian Hillstar Boissonneaua jardini and Heliodoxa imperatrix, are Oreotrochilus chimborazo jamesoni was observed infrequent at La Planada. The most characteristic feeding on the locally common Chuquiragua species of La Planada is Haplophaedia lugens, insignis, which is found throughout the paramo and which, along with Ocreatus underwoodii, is one of mixed shrubby slopes from 3,450 m above El 5 the commonest hummingbirds in secondary scrub Tambo • The next day a male and female were mist and forest around the La Planada reserve cabins. netted and photographed (slides catalogued at Haplophaedia lugens is restricted to a small range VIREO: s 50/11016, 019, 018, 020). The female was straddling the border of south-west Colombia and in breeding condition and nearby nesting was sug 1 adjacent Ecuador at 1,100-2,250 m • However, de gested by the vascularised brood-patch. This pair spite its confiding behaviour, the dull and almost was released and subsequently repeatedly observed nondescript plumage of H. lugens easily confuses in patches of Chuquiraga insignis. The species was observers and the species is probably frequently considered endemic to Ecuador, where the north overlooked. ernmost locality is the Cerro Cotacachi/Cerro Yana Above La Planada the paved highway to Ipiales Urco de Pifian in Imbabura, where it was observed passes largely deforested areas as it ascends the in 1975 and 19804, and just 3 km south of the Co Pacific slope ofNudo de los Pastos, where a typical lombian border in 19979. selection of highland trochilids occurs (24 species). Continuing beyond El Tambo, the rough track Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas is a seasonal descends into montane forest which, although heav visitor during December-January, frequenting gar ily cut for firewood by local people, still possesses a dens 2 km south of Ipiales at Hosteria Mayasquer, typical highland hummingbird fauna. Ten km be Rumichaca (00°54'N 77°37'W, at 2,900 m) on the low El Tambo, at 2,300 m, a trail enters a steep Ecuadorian border. Repeated sight observations in forested valley from San Felipe (00°52'N 77°58'W) 1989, 1991, 1994 and 1996, and a documented in where Heliangelus strophianus is fairly common. dividual photographed on 4 January 1996 by LAMH This species was formerly considered to be endemic are the first records of the species in Colombia. to humid premontane and montane forest (at There are two previous unconfirmed reports 580 1,200-2,800 m) in EBA041 of western Ecuador, to km north-east of here on Paramo de Chingaza, in within 20 km of the Colombian border. It was ten 19819• Patagona gigas is suspected to be season tatively known in Colombia from two "Bogota" 3 ally regular in southern Narifio, as the introduced skins, suspected to be from Narifio , as well as un Agave americana (Agavaceae), an important food confirmed sightings at Reserva Natural La 7 source for this species, is common in this area. Planada • On 24August 1992 a pair was seen copu From Rumichaca, a road runs along the Ecua lating on the ground with separate observations in dorian side of the frontier to Tufifio, and then humid cloud forest dominated by Chusquea sp. crosses into Colombia to the town of Chiles. From bamboo tickets. Four birds were mist-netted and the border, a track ascends the northern (Colom photographed (slides catalogued at VIREO: s 50/1/ bian) slope of Volcan Chiles for 4 km to a pass at 017) on 27 August 1992 providing confirmation of 3, 750 m, before descending towards the Pacific low the species' presence in Colombia. lands along the partially forested Rio Blanco valley. Returning to Ipiales, the Pan-American High Four km below the pass near El Tambo village at way heads north to Pasto through steep arid 3,350 m (00°52'N 77°58'W), there are several large intermontane valleys, part of the Rio Patia drain Polylepis woodland patches in paramo dominated age, where Turquoise-throated Puffleg Eriocnemis by Espeletia spp. and Puya spp. Here 20 humming godini might occur, based on two 19th century bird species have been recorded including "Bogota" skins and four specimens from adjacent
33 COTINGA 10 The hummingbirds of Narifio, Colombia
1 Ecuador • However, very little natural habitat re patches of secondary forest near the road. This tall mains, its specialised range being intensively secondary forest intermixed with coca plantations farmed. contains a number of interesting species, notably The Pasto to Mocoa road heads east across the Grey-chinned Hermit Phaethornis griseogularis, Cuchilla el Tabano at 3,310 m (scrub and patchy Doryfera johannae (very common), Golden-tailed paramo with Ramphomicron microrhynchum), then Sapphire Chrysuronia oenone, Ecuadorian Piedtail descends the eastern flank of the Nudo de los Pastas Phlogophilus hemileucurus, Black-throated Bril to theAmazonian lowlands. The total length of this liant Heliodoxa schreibersii, Pink-throated Brilliant road is 148 km. Little natural habitat remains ex Heliodoxa gularis and Long-billed Starthroat cept beyond Sibundoy town (in Putumayo Heliomaster longirostris (range extension for the department). The road climbs another pass to km Andean foothills of southern Colombia). On 23 86 (01°08'N 76°50'W, at 2, 787 m), before a breath March 1998, two Grey-breasted Sabrewing taking 44 km descent through the forested Rio Campylopterus largipennis fed sporadically on flow Putumayo valley to the Amazonian lowlands. Brief ering Melastomataceae bushes and were joined by trips have yielded 22 hummingbird species and the an adult male Napo Sabrewing C. villaviscensio. area has much potential for future ornithological The latter was observed at very close quarters and discoveries. The best area on which to concentrate photographed by LAMH. The species was formerly is between the small pass at km 113 (01°04'N considered endemic to the Napo EBA of eastern 76°44'W, at 2,247 m) and km 130 at 1,164 m. Be Ecuador and adjacent north-east Peru (at 1,050- low km 113, Green Violetear Colibri thalassinus, 1,500 m). This record of Campylopterus Chestnut-breasted Coronet Boissonneaua villaviscensio represents the first record in Colom matthewsii, Emerald-bellied Puffleg Eriocnemis bia and an altitudinal extension down to 780 m. alinae (range extension for southernmost Colom bia) and White-bellied Woodstar Acestrura mulsant Discussion occur, as well as Fawn-breasted Heliodoxa As a measure of general avian richness 100 hum rubinoides and Violet-fronted Brilliants H. mingbird species (of 159 species known in leadbeateri. Flowering trees at km 127 (1,427 m) Colombia5) illustrates the enormous potential attracted a swarm of small hummers including N ariiio has to offer visiting birders. The five new Wire-crested Thorntail Popelairia popelairii species for Colombia recorded within this family (altitudinal extension), Rufous-vented Whitetip in just one region (constituting 3% of Colombia's Urosticte ruficrissa and Buff-booted Racket-tail land area) highlights the potential for additions to Ocreatus (underwoodii) addae in March 1998. The the Colombian avifauna. Ornithological field tech road continues into the largely deforested Amazon niques such as photography, mist-netting and sound ian foothills and low lands. Green-fronted Doryfera recording have reversed traditional dependence on ludoviciae and Blue-fronted Lancebills D. johannae collecting, yet Colombia has received very little at overlap in altitudinal range along the road at tention from these approaches. Political instability c.1,000-1,400 m, and are range extensions for the throughout Colombia has greatly hindered ornitho eastern Andean slope of southern Colombia. logical research, although regions such as Nariiio The petroleum town of Orito (at 380 m), 123 are considered stable and, provided visitors appre km south-west ofMocoa, has several large and ac ciate the local situation when travelling, birders cessible Andean foothill and Amazonian forest should find themselves in no greater danger than patches with 24 hummingbird species. It is an ex in most other developing countries. Potential visi cellent base from which to explore the interesting tors to the area are welcome to contact the authors intergrade between the two avifaunas within 20 for further information on visiting any area of the km of the Nariiio border. The Amazonian humming country. bird community is dominated by hermits Phaethornis (five species) and includes such nota Acknowledgements ble species as Buff-tailed Sicklebill Eutoxeres We are very grateful for field assistance from the condamini and Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxa following: Juan Carlos Luna, Kristin Salaman, Ralf aurescens. East beyond Orito airport, a road fol Strewe, David Gandy, Robert Giles, Louise Augus lows the trans-Andean oil pipeline for 21 km to tine, Carl Downing, Tony Payne, Victor Hugo Estacion de Bombeo Guamues (pipeline pumping Serrano, William Beltran, La Planada and Rio station) and a military checkpoint (00°38'N Nambf nature reserves. Many thanks to the ex 77°02'W, at 780 m). From the checkpoint the road traordinary friendliness and hospitality of the continues 2 km to the Rio Guamues (at 663 m) with people of southern Colombia. Kristin Salaman, Paul
34 COTINGA 10 The hummingbirds of Narino, Colombia
Coopmans, Niels Krabbe and Paul Greenfield made Appendix I. Checklist of the hummingbir ds recorded many valuable comments and corrections to the from seven localities in N arifio and adjace nt Putumayo. paper. Trochilidae of Narin o 2 3 4 5 6 7 EBA References Bronzy Hermit G/aucis aenea 1. Collar, N. J. , Crosby, M. J. & Stattersfield,A. J. R Rufous-breasted Hermit G/aucis hirsuta f (1994) Birds to watch 2: the world list of threat Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes leucurus c ened birds. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife Interna Band-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes ruckeri f R tional (Conservation Series 4). Wh ite-whiskered Hermit Phaethorn is yaruqui c c 2. Fjeldsa, J. & Krabbe, N. (1990) Birds of the high Green Hermit Phaethorn is guy x Andes. Copenhagen: University of Copenha Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethorn is syrmatophorus c c c gen Zoological Museum & Svendborg: Apollo Rusty-breasted Hermit Phaethornis superciliosus u Books. Whi te-bearded Hermit Phaethornis hispidus 3. Hilty, S. L. & Brown, W. L. (1986) A guide to the Straight-billed Hermit Phoethorn is bourcieri x birds of Colombia. Princeton: Princeton Uni Redd ish Hermit Phaethornis ruber R Grey-chinned Hermit Phaethornis griseogularis versity Press. little Hermit Phaethorn is /onguemareus R 4. Ridgely, R. & S. Greenfield, P. J. (in prep.) The Toath-billed Hummingbird Androdon aequo1orialis u s birds of Ecuador. Whi te-tipped Sicklebill Euloxeres aquila R 5. Salaman, P.G.W. (ed.) (1994) Surveys and con Buff-tailed Sicklebill Eutoxeres condomini x servation of biodiversity in the Choc6, south Blue.fronted Lancebill Dory(era johannae c west Colombia. Cambridge, UK: International Green-fronted Lancebill Dory(era ludoviciae f f Council for Bird Preservation (Study Report Grey.breasted Sabrewing Compylop1erus largipennis 61). Napo Sabrewing Campylopterus villaviscensio R 44 6. Salaman, P. G. W. & Stiles, F. G. (1996) A dis White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora c u Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae tinctive new species of vireo (Passeriformes: R Green Violetear Colibri tha/assinus R c Vireonidae) from the western Andes of Colom Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscons f c bia. Ibis 138: 610-619. Black·throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis x 7. Salaman, P. G. W., Kaestner, P., Pearman, M. & Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeli R u Stiles, F. G. (in prep.) Birding in Colombia: a Wire-crested Thorntail Popelairia popelairii R birders site guide and field chechlist. Green Thorntail Popelairio conversii 8. Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J. & Blue -tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus u Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the West Andean Emerald Chloroslilbon melanorhynchus R world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. Violet-crowned Woodnymph Tha lurania co/ombica R Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (Con Green-crowned Woodnymph Tha lurania (annyi u R Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania (urcala servation Series 7). c Blue·headed Sapphire Hylocharis grayi u 39 9. Woods, S. F., Ortiz-Crespo , F. & Ramsay, P. M. Humboldt's Sapphire Hylocharis (grayO humboldlii u 41 (1998) Presence of Giant Hu mmingbird Golden-tailed Sapphire Chrysuronia oenone Patagona gigas and Ecuadorian Hillstar Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia (lmbriata Oreotrochilus chimborazo jamesoni at the Ec Blue-chested Hummingbird Amazilia amabilis uador-Colombia border. Cotinga 10: 37-40. Purple-chested Hummingbird Amazilia rosenbergi u 41 Andean Emerald Amazilia (ranciae R U Paul G. W. Salam a n Steely-vented Hummingbird Amazilia saucerrollei Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Dept. Rufous·tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacad c c c Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer Cha~bura of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parhs Road, urochrysia Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys R C cc Oxford OXI 3PS, UK. Rufous-vented Whitetip Uroslicte ru(lcrissa R 44 E-mail: [email protected]. uh Purple·bibbed Whitetip Urosticte benjamini u 41 Ecuadorian Piedtail Phlogophilus hemileucurus R 44 Luis A. Mazariegos H. Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxo aurescens R Carrera 5 No. 47-165, Cali, Colombia. E-mail: fawn.breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa rubinoides x x [email protected]. co Violet-fronted Brilliant Heliodoxa leadbea1eri x Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula R Empress Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix c u 41 Black·throated Brilliant Heliodoxa schreibersii u Pink-throated Brilliant Heliodoxa gularis R 44 Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo u
35 COTINGA 10 The hummingbirds of Nariiio, Colombia
Trochilidae of Nariiio 3 4 5 6 7 EBA Key to columns: I Tumaco to El Diviso (0-600 m) Wh ite-railed Hillstar Urochroo bouguNi C F U X 2 Rio Nam bi Nature Reserve ( 1,000-1 ,500 m) Giant Humm ingbird Porogono gigos La Planada Nature Reserve ( 1.700-2,250 m) Sh ining Sunbeam Agloeoctis cup ripenn~ c F Volcan Chiles area (2,250-3.700 m) Mounrain Velvetbrem lofresnoyo /ofresnoyi F u lpiales area (2 ,600-3,000 m) Great Sapphirewing Pterophones cyonopterus C F U San Fra ncisco-Mecca road (1,400-3,300 m) Bronzy Inca Coe/igeno coe/igeno u Orica area (380-800 m) Brown In ca Coe/1geno wilsoni c c 41 Collared Inca Coeligeno torquoto R C C C General abundance of an individual encountered: Buff-winged Srarfrontlet Coeligeno lutedoe u R C common: detected on >90% of days Sword-billed Hummingbird Ensifero ensifero R F fairly common; detected on 50-90%of dlfs Buff-ta il ed Coronet &is sonneouo ~ovescens u R U uncommon; detected on I0-50 %of dlfS Chestnut-breasted Coronet &issonneouo motrhews ii R R rare; detected on
Total 16 27 26 24 20 23 24 16
36