Royal Sunangel
Encyclopedia
The Royal Sunangel is a species of hummingbird
. It is endemic to subtropical elfin forests
and shrubs in the Andes
of northern Peru
and adjacent south-eastern Ecuador
. It is endangered
due to habitat loss. It is strongly sexually dichromatic, and while females resemble other female sunangels
, males are unique with their iridescent dark blue plumage
.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
. It is endemic to subtropical elfin forests
Elfin forests
Elfin forest is a nickname given to several similar dwarfed plants ecosystems, mainly in coastal Temperate Californian and montane Tropical regions, that are host to communities of dwarfed and tiny plants, insects, and rodents, such as the California Kangaroo Rat.-California:In Northern California,...
and shrubs in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of northern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and adjacent south-eastern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. It is endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
due to habitat loss. It is strongly sexually dichromatic, and while females resemble other female sunangels
Heliangelus
Heliangelus is a genus of hummingbirds found in montane South America. The species are collectively known as sunangels.It contains the following species:* Amethyst-throated Sunangel...
, males are unique with their iridescent dark blue plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
.