Alternative name: Gray-breasted Comet
- Taphrolesbia griseiventris
Identification
14-17 cm.
- Straight black bill
- Bronzy-green upperparts
- White postocular spot
- Light grey underparts with blue throat
- Long, deeply forked tail
- Bottle green to golden-orange at tips of rectrices
Female is similar but has no blue throat and a shorter and less forked tail.
Immatures are similar to adults but with a tawny throat and breast.
Distribution
Endemic to the Andes of northwestern Peru (southern Cajamarca to western Huánuco).
A rather rare restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Found in bushy semi-arid areas with thickets or scattered trees in canyons and partly cultivated hillsides.
Occurs at 2600 to 3500 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Seen taking nectar from a flowering cacti, Puya, Amaryllidaceae and Agave.
Breeding
No information.
Movements
Presumably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1999. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334252
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Gray-bellied Comet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Gray-bellied_Comet
