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GALLERIES > BIRDS > APODIFORMES > TROCHILIDAE > MARVELLOUS SPATULETAIL [Loddigesia mirabilis]


Marvellous Spatuletail Picture
 
 

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SPECIES INFO

The Marvellous Spatuletail, Loddigesia mirabilis, is a medium-sized (up to 15cm long) white, green and bronze hummingbird adorned with blue crest feathers, a brilliant turquoise gorget, and a black line on its white underparts. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Loddigesia.

A Peruvian endemic, this species is found in the forest edge of the Río Utcubamba region. It was discovered in 1835 by the bird collector Andrew Matthews for George Loddiges.

The Marvellous Spatuletail is unique among birds, for it has just four feathers in its tail. Its most remarkable feature is the male's two long racquet-shaped outer tail feathers that cross each other and end in large violet-blue discs or "spatules". He can move them independently.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and limited range, the Marvellous Spatuletail is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.





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