Kingdom Order Family Genus Species Animalia Apodiformes Trochilidae Riccordia Riccordia maugaeus
The vibrant Puerto Rican Emerald (Riccordia maugaeus ) is a diminutive hummingbird species endemic to its namesake island. Males of this abundant generalist reach just 3.3-3.7 inches long, with metallic emerald heads and shiny grass-green bodies offset by steely blue forked tails.
Common Name(s) : Puerto Rican EmeraldFamily : TrochilidaeBody Dimensions : 8.5-9.5 cmMale Plumage Color(s) : Iridescent Green Crown, Bluish Green Gorget, Green Underparts, Steely Blue Forked TailFemale Plumage Color(s) : Dull Green Crown, Light Gray Throat, Green Underparts, Forked Tail With Pale MarkingsHabitat : Forests, Woodlands, Gardens Diet : Nectar, ArthropodsNative Countries : Puerto RicoContinent(s) : North AmericaTaxonomy Classification Year : 1801Taxonomist(s) : Jean Baptiste Audebert & Louis Pierre Vieillot
https://www.bioexplorer.net/file/Puerto-Rican-Emerald.mp3
Puerto Rican Emerald Fun Facts
Females lack iridescence, sporting gray throats and brown-marked green tails instead. Weighing only 0.12-0.13 ounces , the Puerto Rican Emerald inhabits virtually every forest and human-modified landscape across Puerto Rico, from the coastal lowlands to mountain forests[1] . A sedentary species, the Puerto Rican Emerald feeds on nectar from diverse flowering trees Both sexes snatch small spiders Nesting peaks from February to May. Tiny cups of plant fibers and soft lining materials are anchored in low branches and camouflaged with lichen. The typical clutch size is just two eggs , incubating for 14-16 days while the chicks fledge at 3 weeks old. Abundant, adaptable, and occupying an array of habitats, the diminutive Puerto Rican Emerald is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, although its population numbers are uncertain. Suggested Reading:
Species Name: Anthracothorax viridis
Marvel at Puerto Rico's smallest avian pollinator, the iridescent emerald Green Mango hummingbird, fueled by nectar, sustaining its mobility through lush mountain rainforests and coffee plantations. Trace its role in carrying pollen through unbroken floral corridors rich in fruiting trees. Understand this diminutive species' undisrupted pathway reliance on habitat connectivity to counter migration needs.
This hummingbird readily utilizes gardens, parks, plantations, and other human-modified landscape features offering nectar plants
Cite This Page
[1] – “Molecular Phylogenetics and the Diversification of Hummingbirds” . Accessed December 26, 2023. Link .
