There are some animal species that go extinct. Their remote habitats, as well as the passing of time, may be responsible for this. Many humans hope to catch a glimpse of the precious creatures while searching high and low. Birdwatchers have been seeking the Santa Marta sabrewing for decades — one of nature’s most elusive species.
Santa Marta sabrewings are Critically Endangered hummingbirds in the “emeralds” tribe Trochilini of the subfamily Trochilinae. This species is endemic to Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Santa Marta highlands have 24 endemic bird species, including this species.
The shimmering, iridescent creature last appeared in 2010 in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia, where it was discovered in 1946. The magnificent creature was spotted by local bird watcher Yurgen Vega recently. Birding and researching local species in the mountains of Colombia were the focus of Vega’s research when he turned to leave.
As luck would have it, he spotted a Santa Marta sabrewing on a nearby branch. In an incredibly rare shot, Vega was able to capture the bird briefly posing for the camera. His feathers were emerald-green, his bill was curved, and his neck had an iridescent blue color. Conservation organization re:wild featured the species among the top 10 most sought-after birds on its “Search for Lost Birds” quest.
This little hummingbird is about 13 cm in length. There is a white spot behind the eye of both sexes. There is still some mystery surrounding the birds’ habitat and range, but they seem to live high in the forested mountains. A critical threat to the birds has been identified by researchers.
“The most important conclusion I think we can draw from this finding is that we must better understand this species as a whole,” said Esteban Botero-Delgadillo, of SELVA: Research for Conservation in the Neotropics. Rural and Indigenous communities in the region will need to be included in the project.
Community monitoring programs, for example, can be used as a tool for generating valuable information to contribute to conservation because they have the opportunity to encounter the species more often.” The species inhabits humid forests, plantations (especially bananas), and bushy páramo. The range elevation varies from 1,200 meters to 2,400 meters.
According to him, there may be other locations that require urgent attention, since we do not have a good understanding of the species distribution. As with many other species, industrial activity poses a significant threat to the bird’s habitat. The first step, however, is to identify stable populations in order to identify threats and pressures that threaten them.
As a result of the discovery, American Bird Conservancy’s director of threatened species outreach, John C. Mittermeier, made a statement. As this species has been discovered, I hope it will serve as a call to action for both the sabrewing and the general public.
In order to learn more about it and to protect it as well as other bird species that have become extinct, we must act immediately. Approximately a hundred species of birds are currently extinct in the world. “Hopefully, we can find them all together.” One of the most elusive sabrewing species, the Santa Marta sabrewing, has been photographed in Colombia for the first time in over a decade.
Related Reading – Lazuline Sabrewing (Campylopterus falcatus)
