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14 September 2021 First description of the nest and juveniles of the Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae), with comments on hummingbird nestling obesity
Oscar Gonzalez
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Abstract

I provide the first description of the nest and juveniles of the Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae), a hummingbird endemic to Peru. The locality of Unchog, in the elfin forest of the Carpish mountains in Huánuco, is where I found this species nesting. My descriptions are based on 4 nests found on different occasions (April 2013, January 2014, and Jul–Aug 2014). Coppery Metaltail used mainly moss, lichen, lycopodium, and twigs as materials to build their nests. I found 3 nest locations: a tree branch, creek banks, and an abandoned hut. The mean internal diameter of nests was 34.45 mm long by 42.52 mm wide (n = 4). I only measured the depth of 3 of them (mean = 33.83 mm). Metaltail eggs were white and had a mean of 12.93 by 8.3 mm (n = 2). Fledglings (n = 2) were observed in July and one of them reached up to 144% the mass of an adult. I comment on other cases of nestling obesity for different species of hummingbirds. The Coppery Metaltail selects different substrates for nesting and might reproduce throughout the year.

Oscar Gonzalez "First description of the nest and juveniles of the Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae), with comments on hummingbird nestling obesity," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 132(4), 984-990, (14 September 2021). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-132.4.984
Received: 16 July 2019; Accepted: 22 February 2021; Published: 14 September 2021
KEYWORDS
elfin forest
Huánuco
nesting biology
Peru
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