Bearded Helmetcrest
Encyclopedia
The Bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon guerinii) is a species of hummingbird
in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia
and Venezuela
. Its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland
, known as páramo
.
First described by French ornithologist Auguste Boissonneau in 1840, it is the only member of the genus Oxypogon. However, a study of mitochondrial DNA of hummingbirds shows it to be most closely related to the Bearded Mountaineer
(Oreonympha nobilis) and the Rufous-capped Thornbill
(Chalcostigma ruficeps). The other member of the genus Chalcostigma
lay outside the group, suggesting the genus might need revising in the future.
Measuring 114 mm (4.5 in) in length, it is a small hummingbird with a very small 8 mm (0.3 in) bill. The adult male has a distinctive pointed black crest and a shaggy white beard. The face and cheeks are blackish, rendering a triangular shape with the white fronted crest and white beard. The underparts are a dull green-grey. The female lacks the beard and crest.
The Bearded Helmetcrest is found in the Andes, ranging from altitudes of 3600 to 4500 m (12000–15000 ft) in Venezuela, and 3200 to 5200 m (10500 to 17000 ft) in Colombia. Its main habitat is the páramo
, but can descend to the treeline outside of breeding season.
The Bearded Helmetcrest often perches on boulders and flits between low-flowering shrubs, visiting the flowers of the genera Espeletia
, Echeveria
, Siphocampylus
, Castilleja
and Draba
.
The species breeds during the rainy season, and nests in in the daisy Espeletia or builds a nest of material from the daisy in a cliff or bank.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, known as páramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
.
First described by French ornithologist Auguste Boissonneau in 1840, it is the only member of the genus Oxypogon. However, a study of mitochondrial DNA of hummingbirds shows it to be most closely related to the Bearded Mountaineer
Bearded Mountaineer
The Bearded Mountaineer is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found only in Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland....
(Oreonympha nobilis) and the Rufous-capped Thornbill
Rufous-capped Thornbill
The Rufous-Capped Thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru....
(Chalcostigma ruficeps). The other member of the genus Chalcostigma
Chalcostigma
Chalcostigma is a genus of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek khalkos meaning bronze and stigme for a spot or mark, a reference to the beard on the Bronze-tailed Thornbill....
lay outside the group, suggesting the genus might need revising in the future.
Measuring 114 mm (4.5 in) in length, it is a small hummingbird with a very small 8 mm (0.3 in) bill. The adult male has a distinctive pointed black crest and a shaggy white beard. The face and cheeks are blackish, rendering a triangular shape with the white fronted crest and white beard. The underparts are a dull green-grey. The female lacks the beard and crest.
The Bearded Helmetcrest is found in the Andes, ranging from altitudes of 3600 to 4500 m (12000–15000 ft) in Venezuela, and 3200 to 5200 m (10500 to 17000 ft) in Colombia. Its main habitat is the páramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
, but can descend to the treeline outside of breeding season.
The Bearded Helmetcrest often perches on boulders and flits between low-flowering shrubs, visiting the flowers of the genera Espeletia
Espeletia
Espeletia, commonly known as Frailejón or Fraylejón is a genus of perennial subshrubs, in the family Asteraceae. The genus, which is endemic mainly to Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, was first formally described by botanist Alexander Von Humboldt in 1801...
, Echeveria
Echeveria
Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family, native from Mexico to northwestern South America. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy...
, Siphocampylus
Siphocampylus
Siphocampylus is a genus of plant in family Campanulaceae. It contains the following species :* Siphocampylus affinis, McVaugh* Siphocampylus asplundii, Jeppesen* Siphocampylus ecuadoriensis, E.Wimm....
, Castilleja
Castilleja
Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or Prairie-fire, is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes, northern Asia, and one species as far west as the Kola Peninsula in Siberia...
and Draba
Draba
Draba is a large genus of cruciferous plants, commonly known as whitlow-grasses. There are over 400 species:*Draba abajoensis Windham & Al-Shehbaz*Draba × abiskoensis O.E.Schulz*Draba × abiskojokkensis O.E.Schulz...
.
The species breeds during the rainy season, and nests in in the daisy Espeletia or builds a nest of material from the daisy in a cliff or bank.