Topic
Phaethornithinae
About: Phaethornithinae is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5 publications have been published within this topic receiving 135 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: A complete matrix of DNA hybridization distances among 26 hummingbirds and an outgroup swift was generated to determine the principal hummingbird lineages and reveal some basic aspects of hummingbird ecologic and morphologic evolution.
Abstract: The spectacular evolutionary radiation of hummingbirds (Trochilidae) has served as a model system for many biological studies. To begin to provide a historical context for these investigations, we generated a complete matrix of DNA hybridization distances among 26 hummingbirds and an outgroup swift (Chaetura pelagica) to determine the principal hummingbird lineages. FITCH topologies estimated from symmetrized delta TmH-C values and subjected to various validation methods (bootstrapping, weighted jackknifing, branch length significance) indicated a fundamental split between hermit (Eutoxeres aquila, Threnetes ruckeri; Phaethornithinae) and nonhermit (Trochilinae) hummingbirds, and provided strong support for six principal nonhermit clades with the following branching order: (1) a predominantly lowland group comprising caribs (Eulampis holosericeus) and relatives (Androdon aequatorialis and Heliothryx barroti) with violet-ears (Colibri coruscans) and relatives (Doryfera ludovicae); (2) an Andean-associated clade of highly polytypic taxa (Eriocnemis, Heliodoxa, and Coeligena); (3) a second endemic Andean clade (Oreotrochilus chimborazo, Aglaiocercus coelestis, and Lesbia victoriae) paired with thorntails (Popelairia conversii); (4) emeralds and relatives (Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Amazilia tzacatl, Thalurania colombica, Orthorhyncus cristatus and Campylopterus villaviscensio); (5) mountain-gems (Lampornis clemenciae and Eugenes fulgens); and (6) tiny bee-like forms (Archilochus colubris, Myrtis fanny, Acestrura mulsant, and Philodice mitchellii). Corresponding analyses on a matrix of unsymmetrized delta values gave similar support for these relationships except that the branching order of the two Andean clades (2, 3 above) was unresolved. In general, subsidiary relationships were consistent and well supported by both matrices, sometimes revealing surprising associations between forms that differ dramatically in plumage and bill morphology. Our results also reveal some basic aspects of hummingbird ecologic and morphologic evolution. For example, most of the diverse endemic Andean assemblage apparently comprises two genetically divergent clades, whereas the majority of North American hummingbirds belong a single third clade. Genetic distances separating some morphologically distinct genera (Oreotrochilus, Aglaiocercus, Lesbia; Myrtis, Acestrura, Philodice) were no greater than among congeneric (Coeligena) species, indicating that, in hummingbirds, morphological divergence does not necessarily reflect level of genetic divergence.
77 citations
TL;DR: The new fossil reveals that these European Trochilidae were remarkably modern in size, skeletal proportions and the shape of the wing, tail and beak and hyoid bones, and confirms the early acquisition of the abilities of hovering and nectarivory in hummingbirds, probably before the Oligocene.
Abstract: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) today have an exclusively New World distribution, but their pre-Pleistocene fossil record comes from Europe only. In this study, we describe an exceptionally preserved fossil hummingbird from the early Oligocene of southeastern France. The specimen is articulated, with a completely preserved beak and feathering. Osteological characters allow to identify it as Eurotrochilus sp. This genus is a stem group representative of Trochilidae and was recently described from the early Oligocene of southern Germany. The new fossil reveals that these European Trochilidae were remarkably modern in size, skeletal proportions and the shape of the wing, tail and beak and hyoid bones. These features confirm the early acquisition of the abilities of hovering and nectarivory in hummingbirds, probably before the Oligocene. In several morphological characteristics, they resemble members of the ‘true hummingbirds’ (subfamily Trochilinae) and differ from hermits (Phaethornithinae). These features, which include a short and square tail and a moderately long, almost straight beak, appear to be primitive within the family Trochilidae.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the British Ornithologists' Union Colombia Expedition recorded 16 species of hummingbirds at Matamata in the Amacayacu National Park, Amazonas, Colombia.
Abstract: Between October 1987 and September 1989, the British Ornithologists' Union Colombia Expedition recorded 16 species of hummingbird at Matamata in the Amacayacu National Park, Amazonas, Colombia. Most of these species were resident breeders at the study site although two appeared to be local migrants. Six species of hermit hummingbirds (subfamily Phaethornithinae) occurred at Matamata; although very similar in general morphology and behaviour, they showed different preferences for habitat, food plants and foraging technique. Hermits were predominant in the forest, but in areas of secondary vegetation and along riverine borders, “typical” hummingbirds (subfamily Trochilinae) were more common. The study site consisted of terra firme and varzea forest and an area of riverine secondary vegetation and contained around 60 species of flowering plants visited by hummingbirds. In contrast with most groups of organisms, hummingbirds and hummingbird-pollinated plants had similar species diversity in primary forest and secondary habitats. The overall abundance of hummingbirds and flowers was significantly higher in areas of riverine secondary growth. The hummingbird community at Matamata is remarkably species rich when compared with study sites elsewhere in North and South America. However, random null model comparisons among Amazonian hummingbird communities reveal that they share many characteristics in their structure and show a high degree of species overlap.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the hummingbird assemblage dynamics in Portachuelo Pass, analyzing the abundance of the captures over four years of sampling and comparing these data with samples taken between 1990 and 2013.
Abstract: Portachuelo Pass is an open area used by a great diversity of bird species, either as residents or for seasonal or migratory movements, reporting 32 species of hummingbirds in the Trochilidae family. Due to this, our goal was evaluating the hummingbird assemblage dynamics in Portachuelo Pass, analyzing the abundance of the captures over four years of sampling and comparing these data with samples taken between 1990 and 2013. Monthly field trips were made from April 1990 to November 1994, and from June 2010 to November 2013, between 5 and 8 mist-nets were used to catch the birds. 14 685 individuals were captured, belonging to 25 species. The relative abundance per species was estimated in each of the sampling months, separating the community into four groups: A) Hummingbirds with high abundances, B) Hummingbirds with low abundances, C) Hummingbirds rare and D) Phaethornithinae. The species with the highest abundance populations were: Heliodoxa leadbeateri and Sternoclyta cyanopectus, followed by Aglaiocercus kingi, Chalybura buffoni, Chrysuronia oenone and Coeligena coeligena. For the rest of the species the densities in the mist-net captures were from low to medium. Based on the results obtained, the community of hummingbirds in the area of Portachuelo can be divided into: six highly abundant species that are observed throughout all or most of the year, seven species that use the passage during most of the year but with low densities, four species that use the area in a seasonal manner and seven rare species in the catches due to the type of sampling, or that do not present displacement movements and prefer other habitats. Statistically significant differences were found between the abundance of hummingbirds of sampling years, being the year with the highest abundance 1991, followed by 2013.
2 citations
1 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assessed the actual composition of hummingbirds in this locality, based on field research conducted between November 2002 and January 2004, and pointed the occurrence of 22 species along an altitudinal gradient of almost 1.000m.
Abstract: Hummingbirds of Santa Teresa, State of Espirito Santo, Southeastern Brazil. Although the avifauna composition of Santa Teresa is well known, its hummingbird's data are based on the studies conducted by Augusto Ruschi between 1930 and 1970. The present work assesses the actual composition of hummingbirds in this locality, based on field research conducted between November 2002 and January 2004. Our study pointed the occurrence of 22 species along an altitudinal gradient of almost 1.000m. From this total, 16 species showed to be locally common, including species of Phaethornithinae and Trochilinae. Twenty one species were recorded in the mountain region (> 500m), whereas 9 species were recorded exclusively there. In contrast, 13 species were recorded in the lowland region (< 500m), where only one species was found to be exclusive. Cluster Analyses demonstrated that the PMBML (7.7 ha), which presents historical resources for hummingbird attraction, was the most dissimilar environment, differing even from the protected forests (Euclidiane Distance= 0.60), for which 12 species were recorded. Thirteen species known for Santa Teresa were not recorded during our field survey. The reasons for their absence in our field survey are discussed
1 citations
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Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |