Peru's Endemic Birds VII: Marvelous Spatuletail

	Apodiformes
	Trochilidae
	Loddigesia
	Peru (endemic)
	Near Threatened

Taxonomy

The marvelous spatuletail is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is placed in the monotypic genus Loddigesia, meaning it is the only species in that genus. It is endemic to northern Peru.

Description

The Marvelous Spatuletail is one of the most distinctive hummingbirds in the world.

Adult males have mostly green upperparts and a white chest with a glittering purple throat patch. Its most notable feature is its tail, which has four feathers: two long outer feathers ending in large spatule-shaped discs, and two shorter central feathers. Males can move the spatules independently during display.

Females are smaller and lack the extravagant tail spatules. They have more modest green and white plumage. Juveniles resemble females.

Distribution and Habitat

This species is found only in northern Peru, mainly in the departments of Amazonas. It lives in humid montane forest, forest edges, and scrub areas, typically at mid to high elevations in Andean valleys. One of its main known strongholds is the Utcubamba River basin.

Behavior

The marvelous spatuletail feeds mainly on nectar from flowering plants and also consumes small insects. It feeds while hovering in front of flowers. Males are known for territorial behavior, especially around feeding and display areas.

During courtship, males perform elaborate aerial displays, using their unique tail feathers to attract females.

Breeding

The female builds a small cup-shaped nest made of plant fibers and moss, usually placed in shrubs or small trees. She alone incubates the eggs and cares for the young. Clutches typically contain two eggs.

Conservation Status

The IUCN originally assessed the Marvelous Spatuletail as Threatened, then in 1994 rated it as Vulnerable, in 2000 as Endangered, then moved it down to Near Threatened in 2023. Its population is small and fragmented. The main threat is habitat loss due to agriculture and human settlement in its limited range.

It occurs in some protected areas, but conservation of its montane forest habitat is essential for its survival.

Source and photo: Wikipedia