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Juan Fernandez Firecrown Hummingbird
KB Novak
Scientific Name: Sephanoides fernandensis
Population: 490-2,000
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Trend: Decreasing
The beautiful Juan Fernández Firecrown is surely one of the world's most isolated hummingbird species. Unlike mainland birds such as the Chilean Woodstar, this hummingbird is found on just one far-flung Pacific island in Chile's remote Juan Fernández Archipelago, more than 370 miles west of the South American mainland. That island, Isla Robinson Crusoe, has been designated an Alliance for Zero Extinction site because it contains this species' entire global population.
At about 5 inches long, Juan Fernández Firecrowns are rather large hummingbirds. (By contrast, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird measures 3.75 inches.) They frequently hang from flowers, gripping with their strong feet rather than hovering — a practical and energy-saving adaptation for a bird living on a windswept island. Unfortunately, this behavior may make them more vulnerable to predation by introduced cats.
The decline of the Juan Fernández Firecrown is due to habitat degradation caused by invasive plants, especially introduced blackberry shrubs that overwhelm native plants, and herbivores, particularly rabbits, but also goats, that chew down tree saplings and other vegetation. Other invasive species such as cats, rats, mice, and coatis also pose problems.
https://abcbirds.org/bird/juan-fernandez-firecrown/
Population: 490-2,000
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Trend: Decreasing
The beautiful Juan Fernández Firecrown is surely one of the world's most isolated hummingbird species. Unlike mainland birds such as the Chilean Woodstar, this hummingbird is found on just one far-flung Pacific island in Chile's remote Juan Fernández Archipelago, more than 370 miles west of the South American mainland. That island, Isla Robinson Crusoe, has been designated an Alliance for Zero Extinction site because it contains this species' entire global population.
At about 5 inches long, Juan Fernández Firecrowns are rather large hummingbirds. (By contrast, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird measures 3.75 inches.) They frequently hang from flowers, gripping with their strong feet rather than hovering — a practical and energy-saving adaptation for a bird living on a windswept island. Unfortunately, this behavior may make them more vulnerable to predation by introduced cats.
The decline of the Juan Fernández Firecrown is due to habitat degradation caused by invasive plants, especially introduced blackberry shrubs that overwhelm native plants, and herbivores, particularly rabbits, but also goats, that chew down tree saplings and other vegetation. Other invasive species such as cats, rats, mice, and coatis also pose problems.
https://abcbirds.org/bird/juan-fernandez-firecrown/