Peruvian Racket-tail
The Peruvian racket-tail (Ocreatus peruanus) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. == Taxonomy and systematics == The Peruvian racket-tail, as defined by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and the Clements taxonomy, is one of three species in genus Ocreatus. However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) treats the taxon as one of eight subspecies of booted racket-tail (O. underwoodii). The IOC and Clements call underwoodii "white-booted racket-tail" and assign five subspecies to it. The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC) follows the eight-subspecies model of booted racket-tail but has requested a proposal to elevate O. peruanus and two other subspecies to species status. == Description == All racket-tails have pronounced sexual dimorphism. Only the male has elongated outer rectrices (tail feathers) that have bare shafts with terminal flags. On the Peruvian racket-tail, those feathers are straight and do not cross; the flags are narrow ovals that slightly overlap. Male Peruvian racket-tails are 11 to 15 cm (4.3 to 5.9 in) long including the 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 in) long outer tail feathers, and weigh 2.5…
Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park
Loreto, Ecuador
+113 birds+19 mammals
Where the eastern Andean slopes plunge into Amazonian lowlands, pristine cloud forests and montane rainforests cloak the volcanic Sumaco massif […]
VIEW NATIONAL PARKAntisana National Park
Quijos, Ecuador
+141 birds+21 mammals
Where the Andes spine rises above 4,700 meters, volcanic peaks pierce perpetual cloud forests in Ecuador’s eastern cordillera. This sprawling […]
VIEW NATIONAL PARKYanachaga–chemillén National Park
Palcazu, Peru
+141 birds+14 mammals
Where the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes plunge into the Amazon basin, montane cloud forest clings to precipitous terrain […]
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