Animalia Life
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 (Espнrito Santo south to Santa Catarina),
and west to Goiбs 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 (Espнrito 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.
Photo Gallery of - Frilled coquette
