The Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) is a small hummingbird found in northern South America. With an average body length of 9-10 cm (3.5-4 inches) and weight of 3-4 grams, it is one of the smaller hummingbird species. Its plumage is mostly cinnamon-rufous in color, with a green crown and tail. The male has a glittering reddish-bronze gorget (throat patch), while the female has a white throat with dark spots.
Range and Habitat
The cinnamon hummingbird is found in tropical regions of northern South America. Its range extends along the eastern Andes mountains from Venezuela to Bolivia. It occupies humid forest and woodland habitats, including cloud forests, up to elevations of 1500 meters. Though not migratory, it may make seasonal movements tracking the availability of flowering plants.
Feeding
Like all hummingbirds, the cinnamon hummingbird feeds on nectar from flowering plants. It uses its long, slender bill to reach nectar at the base of long tubular flowers. It has a fast lapping tongue that enables it to lap up nectar while hovering in front of flowers. Some favorite nectar sources include heliconia and lobelia flowers. The cinnamon hummingbird supplements its diet with small insects like gnats and fruit flies, which provide essential proteins. It catches insects in flight or gleans them from foliage.
Courtship and Breeding
The breeding season for cinnamon hummingbirds coincides with the rainy season, which ensures an abundance of flowering plants. Males are promiscuous and mate with multiple females. They attract females through elaborate courtship displays, which involve aerial maneuvers and dives. Once paired, the female builds a small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers, spider webs, and lichens on a low branch or tree fork. She incubates the two tiny white eggs alone for 15-19 days. The chicks hatch with their eyes closed and barely any feathers. They are fed regurgitated insects and nectar by the female and fledge after about 3 weeks.
Conservation Status
Widespread and relatively common within its range, the cinnamon hummingbird is evaluated as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss from deforestation is a threat in some parts of its range. The population appears to be stable currently and the species adapts readily to gardens and parks in urbanized areas. Providing flowering plants that offer nectar sources helps support cinnamon hummingbirds in human-altered environments.
Appearance and Anatomy
The cinnamon hummingbird’s small size makes it one of the tiniest of over 300 hummingbird species. Its light weight is key for the rapid wing-beats that enable hummingbirds to hover. The bill is an elongated, specialized tongue used to drink nectar. Reduced number of feathers create whisker-like vanes around the bill to help trap insects. The cinnamon hummingbird’s reddish plumage is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have different color patterns. Iridescent throat feathers called a gorget are unique to mature males. Long tail feathers contribute to agile flight maneuvers. Legs are short and feet are small with sharp claws for perching.
Behavior and Lifecycle
Cinnamon hummingbirds are solitary and territorial. Males defend nectar-rich flowering plants as territories by using threat displays against intruders. High energy requirements mean these tiny birds spend much of their time feeding. A rapid heartbeat and high metabolism power their hovering flight which can reach 15 wingbeats per second. A cinnamon hummingbird’s heart rate averages over 500 beats per minute while feeding and 1200 beats per minute during courtship displays. The total lifespan in the wild is typically 3 to 5 years. These energetic hummers play key pollination roles in tropical ecosystems.
In Summary
With its diminutive stature, specialized nectar-feeding adaptations, and energetic lifestyle, the cinnamon hummingbird exemplifies unique qualities of hummingbirds. While small, it contributes to important ecological relationships such as pollination. Ongoing conservation aims to protect this species and the habitats on which it depends, ensuring the cinnamon hummingbird continues brightening forests with its glittering presence.