Bogota Sunangel
Encyclopedia
The Bogotá Sunangel is a species of hummingbird
that is only known from one specimen. The hummingbird is a bright purple with black flight feathers and a bright green chin and crown. This bird has only been found in Colombia
and is assumed to live in cloud forest
between 1200 and 3400 meters. Most of its potential habitat is degraded, though the possibility that a population may still exist is feasible.
This hummingbird is known from a single skin purchased in Bogotá
in 1909. Nothing more is known of the bird, and though the skin is most commonly thought to come from either the Eastern or Central Andes
of Colombia, other specimens from Bogotá have come from as far away as Ecuador
. Since the bird has not been seen alive, it is assumed to have a relict
population if it still survives. Some have suggested that the bird is just a hybrid, though the skin is very distinct.
A recent genetic study found that it was in fact a valid species, and is probably extinct.
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...
that is only known from one specimen. The hummingbird is a bright purple with black flight feathers and a bright green chin and crown. This bird has only been 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 is assumed to live in cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
between 1200 and 3400 meters. Most of its potential habitat is degraded, though the possibility that a population may still exist is feasible.
This hummingbird is known from a single skin purchased in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
in 1909. Nothing more is known of the bird, and though the skin is most commonly thought to come from either the Eastern or Central Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of Colombia, other specimens from Bogotá have come from as far away as Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Since the bird has not been seen alive, it is assumed to have a relict
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
population if it still survives. Some have suggested that the bird is just a hybrid, though the skin is very distinct.
A recent genetic study found that it was in fact a valid species, and is probably extinct.
Source
- BirdLife International 2008. . 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 May 2009.
- BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet: Heliangelus zusii. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 11/8/2007