Juan Fernandez Firecrown
6/12/20262 min
The Juan Fernandez Firecrown is a critically endangered hummingbird that is only found on Robinson Crusoe Island, near Chile. Measuring more than 4 inches long from beak to tail, the firecrown is hefty for a hummingbird. To conserve energy while feeding, the birds often hang upside down on flowers rather than hovering in place! As they feed, the hummingbirds transport pollen between forest flowers. Deforestation and invasive species have driven this bird close to extinction, but conservation organizations are actively working to save it and restore its natural habitat.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAriana Remmel· Host0:00
[upbeat music] This is BirdNote. The Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of Chile are home to many unique birds. Perhaps the most vibrant is a critically endangered hummingbird called the Juan Fernández Firecrown. [firecrown chirping] The firecrown's lustrous feathers almost glow in the sunlight. The males' bodies are a fiery orange, and their crowns gleam in shades of cinnamon to golden yellow. Females wear cooler tones, with green backs, white bellies, and their own gorgeous crowns of shimmering blues and purples. Measuring more than four inches long from beak to tail, the Juan Fernández Firecrown is hefty for a hummingbird. To conserve energy while feeding, the birds often hang upside down on flowers rather than hovering in place. But when courting an eligible female, the males still give it their all with an impressive flight display. [firecrowns chirping] Unfortunately, habitat loss and the spread of invasive species in the Juan Fernández Islands threaten to extinguish the firecrown's brilliance. These hummingbirds are only found on Robinson Crusoe Island, where no more than a few thousand remain. Today, conservationists with OIKONOS Ecosystem Knowledge are working to restore the island's native forests and to ensure