Lophornis magnificus
SUBFAMILY
Trochilinae
TAXONOMY
Trochilus magnificus Viellot, 1817, Brazil. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Coquette magnifique; German: Prachtelfe; Spanish: Coqueta Magnifica.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
2.8–3 in (7.1–7.7 cm); female and male c. 0.11 oz (3 g). Male has short, straight bill, red tipped black; forehead metallic
green, crest rufous, rest of upperparts bronzy-green, white band across rump; throat shining emerald green, fan-shaped tufts white with iridescent green distal band, rufous at base; rest of underparts grayish green; tail squared, central tail feathers bronzy green, remaining rufous with bronzy green tips and edges. Female lacks tufts and crest, upperparts similar to male, throat with rufous discs and some white with dark crescents, below washed grayish green; tail squared, dark bronzy, distally rufous. Immatures similar to adult female.
DISTRIBUTION
Central eastern Brazil (Espírito Santo south to Santa Catarina), and west to Goiás and Mato Grosso.
HABITAT
Edges of humid forest, second growth, coffee plantations, and cerrado up to 3,300 ft (1,000 m).
BEHAVIOR
Disperses after reproductive period. Subordinate to other larger hummingbirds. During the display the male hovers in front of the perching female with fanned tufts.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on nectar of small flowering plants like Duranta, Inga, introduced Eucalyptus, Lantana, and Psychotria. Hawks for flying insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds from August to March (Espírito Santo, Brazil). Cupshaped, tiny nest built of fine plant material, outside decorated with lichens; sited 6.6–16 ft (2–5 m) above ground, saddled on branches in bushes or small trees. Two eggs; incubation 12–13 days by female; fledging at 20 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Rare to locally common. Accepts human-made habitats like flowering gardens and plantations.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
