Wednesday, May 16, 2007

New hummingbird from Latin America

Ornithologists with The Hummingbird Conservancy have a described a new species from Columbia, the very colorful Gorgeted Puffleg Eriocnemis isabellae. Actually, they were conducting a general biological survey and not specifically looking for new birds. As one co-discoverer remarked: “Though we expected to find new species of amphibians and new ranges for birds, the discovery of a new hummingbird was completely unexpected.” The species is threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and the expansion of coca fields.

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