Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Sitio realizado por aficionados a la observación de aves desde 10 de enero 2006

Gilded Sapphire - Hylocharis chrysura

Order: Apodiformes - Family: Throchilidae
Status: Summer visitor - Frequent. Habitat: Woods and bushland

All records since January 2014
Sounds
pica bron JST 10 4 15
© Diego Caiafa
pica bron JST 10 4 15
© José L. Merlo
pica bron JST 10 4 15
© Diego Caiafa
 
Adult
Pica bron HAG 8 15© Hugo Aguilar
Red bill tipped black. Reddish chin. Underparts whitish to buff.
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sappire© Dolores Fernández
Bronzy green. Bronzed tail
Breeding
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire18 10 14 © Eduardo Carreyra
18 10 14 © Cora Rimoldi
Diet
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© J. Simón Tagtachian
At a spider web
pica bron JST 13 8 11© J. Simón Tagtachian
At Dolichandra cynanchoides
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© José Alberto Lell
At Indian shot Canna indica
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© J. Simón Tagtachian
At white cedar Melia azedarach
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© Eduardo Ibarra
At blue anise sage Salvia guaranitica
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© J. Simón Tagtachian
At tree tobacco Nicotiana glauca
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© J. Simón Tagtachian
At Graham's cassava Manihot grahamii
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© J. Simón Tagtachian
At balloon vine Cardiospermum grandiflorum
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
At cockspur coral tree Erythrina crista-galli
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© Hugo Hulsberg
At banana plant Musa paradisiaca
Odontonema/firespike© Nicolás Giorgio
At firespike Odontonema strictum
Picaflor bronceado/Gilded Sapphire© Gustavo Brahamian
At yellow oleander Thevetia peruviana

Gilded Sapphire - Cockspur Coral Tree
Hylocharis chrysura - Erythrina crista-galli

Nectar in exchange of a free ride
Pollination is an example of how organisms interrelate and need among each other to prosper. Pollination is the transference of polen from the stamens (masculine reproductive apparatus) to the stigma (terminal part of the femenine reproductive apparatus). The Cockspur Coral Tree like many other plants con not do this by itself and must resort to pollinators. Among birds hummingbirds play this role efficiently. And our example is the Gilded Sapphire.
The striking red colour of the flower attracts the sapphire and the nectar, the sapphire's basic source of food, becomes a reward. With its specialized bill it reaches the nectaries at the base of the corolla. As it is lapping up nectar its head touches both the stamens and the stigma.
The anthers (teminal part of the stamens) will release pollen on the head of the sapphire to be transported to other flowers. The receptive stigma will receive pollen and if it is compatible fertilization will begin.
And I add an interesting detail. Look how the sapphire clasps with its minute legs. Flowers with a big petal like the Cockpur's are used as a platform. Nevertheless, the sapphire keeps hovering as it feeds on nectar.
Video © Roberto Ares - Text: Cora Rimoldi

Photographic records since January 2013