Coquette magnifique
En bref
- Scientific Name: Lophornis magnificus
- Spanish Name: Coqueta magnífica
- Famille : Trochilidae
- Known Nicknames: Frilled Coquette, Coquette, Frilled Coquette Hummingbird
- Average Length: 7–9 cm / 2.8–3.5 in
- Average Weight: 2–3 g / 0.07–0.11 oz
- Wingspan: 10–12 cm / 4–4.7 in
- Key Feature: Male has a spectacular frilled crest of elongated feathers on crown and throat, often iridescent green and rufous
- Primary Diet: Primarily Nectarivore
- Range: Eastern and southeastern Brazil
- Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, forest edges, gardens
- Structure sociale : Solitaire
- Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest on tree branches
- Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
- Évolution démographique : Stable
The Frilled Coquette (*Lophornis magnificus*) is a dazzling hummingbird found in the lowland forests of eastern Brazil, celebrated for its extravagant ornamentation and tiny size. Measuring just 6–7 centimeters, males are unmistakable with a brilliant emerald-green body, a coppery-orange crest, and a striking, iridescent blue-black throat patch. Their most distinctive feature is a delicate, frilly "collar" of elongated, white-tipped feathers that flare out like a lace ruffle during courtship displays, while the iridescent rump glows fiery gold in sunlight. Females lack the frills and crest, sporting a more subdued plumage of green above and pale cinnamon below. Specialized for hovering flight, this minuscule jewel beats its wings up to 80 times per second, feeding on nectar from tubular flowers and occasionally catching tiny insects, making it a living splash of movement and color in the Brazilian canopy.
Faits amusants
Males perform explosive courtship displays where their iridescent green and rufous frilled crest and throat feathers fan out like a tiny, living firework; they are one of the smallest hummingbirds, weighing about the same as two paperclips, and can beat their wings up to 80 times per second, allowing them to hover, fly backward, and even upside down. Their needle-like bill and extensible, forked tongue slurp nectar from deep flowers, while they also hunt small insects on the wing, sometimes plucking prey from spider webs.
Habitats et répartition
This hummingbird inhabits humid lowland and montane forests, forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth, often near streams or in areas with abundant flowering plants. It is also found in coffee plantations, gardens, and other semi-open habitats with a reliable supply of nectar. Its distribution is restricted to eastern and southeastern Brazil, from the state of Bahia south to Santa Catarina, with isolated records in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. It occurs primarily along the Atlantic Forest region, from sea level up to about 1,200 m in elevation.
Comportements & Reproduction
Males are solitary and highly territorial, defending feeding perches and performing elaborate aerial courtship displays that highlight their iridescent green throat frills and coppery crest. After mating, the female alone constructs a tiny cup nest, incubates her two eggs for about 14–16 days, and feeds the chicks regurgitated nectar and insects until they fledge. There is no pair bond or male parental care; the species relies on female-only investment, a common hummingbird strategy that allows males to maximize mating opportunities through repeated displays.
Alimentation
The Frilled Coquette is a nectarivorous hummingbird that feeds primarily on the sugary nectar of tubular flowers, particularly those from plants in the families Rubiaceae and Gesneriaceae, which it accesses using its specialized brush-tipped tongue. It supplements this high-energy liquid diet with small arthropods like gnats, flies, and spiders to obtain essential proteins and amino acids, a common practice among hummingbirds. Unlike many hummingbirds that aggressively defend flower patches, the Frilled Coquette exhibits a more trap-lining foraging strategy, visiting a circuit of widely spaced blooms in the understory of Brazilian Atlantic Forest and savanna habitats. It can hover in front of flowers for several seconds, but interestingly, it often clings to petals or perches while feeding to conserve energy, and its rapid 80–100 wingbeats per second allow it to extract nectar even from narrow, deep corollas that exclude larger competitors.
Couleurs
The male Frilled Coquette displays a brilliant green body, a coppery-red crown, and a striking iridescent emerald-and-blue frilled throat, with a bronze-green tail tipped in white. Females are duller, with green upperparts, pale buff underparts, and no frill. There are no specific camouflage adaptations; the male’s vivid colors are for display, while females rely on subtle coloration for concealment.
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