Bearded Mountaineer
Encyclopedia
The Bearded Mountaineer (Oreonympha nobilis) 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
.
The ornithologist John Gould
described the species in 1869, from a specimen collected by H. Whitely at Tinta District
, and placed it in its own genus Oreonympha. He recognised a kinship with Oxypogon and Ramphomicron
. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek
words oreo- "mountain" and "nympha" "nymph", while the specific epithet is the Latin
adjective nobilis, "noble". A study of mitochondrial DNA of hummingbirds shows it to be most closely related to the Bearded Helmetcrest
(Oxypogon guerinii) 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. Two subspecies are recognised - the more widespread nominate subspecies nobilis has a blue eyebrow, while the more restricted albolimbata has white.
Measuring 15.5 to 16.5 cm (6-6.5 in) in length, it is a large hummingbird with a long tail and a 2.4 cm (1 in) long bill. The underparts of both sexes are white, while the tail is white underneath with black feather tips. The male has a green and purple throat. The upper parts are a bronze-sheened brown and the legs and bill are black.
The species is endemic to Peru, where it is found in high altitude valleys in the south-central Andes, from 2700 to 3900 m (9000–13000 ft). It lives in scrubland, and often visits tobacco (Nicotiana
) plants along roadsides.
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 Trochilidae family.
It is found only in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
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 shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
.
The ornithologist John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
described the species in 1869, from a specimen collected by H. Whitely at Tinta District
Tinta District
Tinta District is one of eight districts of the Canchis Province in Peru.-References:...
, and placed it in its own genus Oreonympha. He recognised a kinship with Oxypogon and Ramphomicron
Ramphomicron
Ramphomicron is a genus of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family.It contains the following species:* Black-backed Thornbill * Purple-backed Thornbill...
. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
words oreo- "mountain" and "nympha" "nymph", while the specific epithet is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective nobilis, "noble". A study of mitochondrial DNA of hummingbirds shows it to be most closely related to the Bearded Helmetcrest
Bearded Helmetcrest
The Bearded Helmetcrest 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....
(Oxypogon guerinii) 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. Two subspecies are recognised - the more widespread nominate subspecies nobilis has a blue eyebrow, while the more restricted albolimbata has white.
Measuring 15.5 to 16.5 cm (6-6.5 in) in length, it is a large hummingbird with a long tail and a 2.4 cm (1 in) long bill. The underparts of both sexes are white, while the tail is white underneath with black feather tips. The male has a green and purple throat. The upper parts are a bronze-sheened brown and the legs and bill are black.
The species is endemic to Peru, where it is found in high altitude valleys in the south-central Andes, from 2700 to 3900 m (9000–13000 ft). It lives in scrubland, and often visits tobacco (Nicotiana
Nicotiana
Nicotiana is a genus of herbs and shrubs of the nightshade family indigenous to North and South America, Australia, south west Africa and the South Pacific. Various Nicotiana species, commonly referred to as tobacco plants, are cultivated and grown to produce tobacco. Of all Nicotiana species,...
) plants along roadsides.