Metallura phoebe

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Superordo: Caprimulgimorphae
Ordo: Apodiformes

Familia: Trochilidae
Subfamilia: Trochilinae
Genus: Metallura
Species: Metallura phoebe
Name

Metallura phoebe (Lesson & DeLattre, 1839)

Type locality: Andes of Peru.

Synonyms

Ornismya phoebe (protonym)
Metallura jelskii Cabanis, 1874 J.Ornith. p. 99 BHL

References

Lesson, R.P. & Delattre, A. 1839. Oiseaux-mouches nouveaux ou très-rares, découverts par M. De Lattre dans son voyage en Amérique et décrits par MM. De Lattre et Lesson. Revue Zoologique par la Société Cuviérienne 2: 13–20. BHL Reference page. p. 17 BHL

Vernacular names
English: Black Metaltail
español: Metalura negra

The black metaltail (Metallura phoebe) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.[3][4]
Taxonomy and systematics

The black metaltail is monotypic.[3] Slight differences between populations in the north and south of its range have led to speculation that it might have two subspecies. It appears to be the basal species of the genus Metallura.[5][6]
Description

The black metaltail is 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). It has a medium length, straight, black bill. The adult male is overall black with a purplish or rosy gray sheen. Its slightly forked tail is iridescent bronzy gold and rosy gray on its upper side and glittering golden-orange on its underside. It has a conspicuous white spot behind the eye and its gorget is glittering turquoise green. The adult female is overall dark smoky gray with a smaller gorget than the male. Juveniles are similar to the female but without a gorget.[6]
Distribution and habitat

The black metaltail is found on the western slope of the Peruvian Andes from southern Cajamarca Department south almost to the Chilean border. It also occurs in some valleys within the Andes. Its range might extend into Chile though as of 2022 there are no records there. It inhabits montane scrublands, woodlands, and canyons, especially those with Polylepis and Puya. In elevation it ranges between 1,500 and 4,500 m (4,900 and 14,800 ft) and is most common above 2,700 m (8,900 ft).[6]
Behavior
Movement

The black metaltail is believed to be sedentary but some seasonal elevational movement is possible.[6]
Feeding

The black metaltail feeds on nectar from a wide variety of low flowers and flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees. It also eats small insects. It usually takes nectar while hovering but will also cling to flowers and sometimes "rob" nectar by piercing the base of a flower. Males defend feeding territories.[6]
Breeding

The black metaltail's egg-laying season is thought to span from July to January. Three nests have been described; they were cups made of moss and lined with feathers. One was on a steep mossy bank and the other two were built into the bases of unused nests of other bird species, perhaps a canastero of genus Asthenes. The female alone incubates the clutch of two eggs. The incubation period and time to fledging are not known.[6]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to black metaltail on xeno-canto
Vocalization

What is thought to be the black metaltail's song is "a repeated high-pitched single note, tsee.....tsee.....tsee...". Its presumed chase call is "a descending series of 4–6 high-pitched notes reminiscent of a Picumnus piculet". It also makes a repeated "short dry trill; djrrt...and longer dry chatters."[6]
Status

The IUCN has assessed the black metaltail as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing.[1] It is fairly common in many areas and is found in some protected areas. However, its habitat is under significant human pressure.[6]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Black Metaltail Metallura phoebe". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22688012A93179925. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22688012A93179925.en. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2022). "Hummingbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 12.1. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
HBW and BirdLife International (2020) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world Version 5. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v5_Dec20.zip [.xls zipped 1 MB] retrieved 27 May 2021
Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 31 January 2022. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved February 1, 2022
Heindl, M., G. M. Kirwan, P. F. D. Boesman, N. W. Mamani-Cabana, and T. S. Schulenberg (2021). Black Metaltail (Metallura phoebe), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg and B. K. Keeney, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blamet1.02 retrieved March 6, 2022