A Bird Wearing A Rainbow Of Color On His Face That Quickly Explodes Into A Spectacular Show Of Glittering Iridescence
A bird that wears a rainbow of color on his face that quite literally explodes into a show of glittering iridescence in the right light.
MEET THE RAINBOW-BEARDED THORNBILL
The rainbow-bearded thornbill (Chalcostigma herrani), is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. This medium-sized hummingbird is around 10.8 – 10.9cm long with a very short, needle-like bill. His head is dark green with a white dot behind each eye. On top of his head is a long, rufous crest, below his beak a gorget (beard), which is rainbow of color from celadon-green through to turquoise, yellow, and red at the lower end. His tail is dark purple with prominent white tips at the corners. The feet are black, as is the beak.
The Rainbow-bearded thornbill likes to feed on nectar from small flowers, low bushes, and shrubs. It will dine on insect prey they are available.
The only act the male of this species is responsible for is the sex act itself. From then on the female does everything else on her own. She builds a cup-shaped nest out of woven plant fibers, woven together and green moss on the exterior for camouflage, built in a bush, shrub, or tree. The interior of the nest is lined with soft plant fibers, animal hair, and feather-down, into which she lays a single white egg. Once they have hatched, she feeds the chicks which are fully-fledged at 7-10 days old.
Watch and listen to this bird below:
