Bird species face serious threats from habitat destruction in Colombia. Furthermore, little is known about food requirements, specific behaviour, distribution and other ecological characteristics of many threatened species. The aim of this project is to study ecological, ethological and phylogenetic aspects of some critically threatened hummingbirds, with emphasis on conservation priorities in Colombia. New information on each species will help channel funds towards the conservation of appropriate threatened habitats within Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

This project, within Sentido Natural's Research Programme, focuses on the study of three endangered and endemic hummingbirds in Colombia: the Blossomcrown, Anthocephala floriceps (VU), the Santa Marta Sabrewing, Campylopterus phainopeplus (EN) and the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, Lepidopyga lilliae (CR). The Blossomcrown includes two subspecies separated by two mountain systems approximately 500 km apart, possibly corresponding to different species. If this is the case, there would be a serious need to protect both habitats belonging to the current subspecies. The Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird, Lepidopyga lilliae, probably corresponds to a hybrid between the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird L. coeruleogularis and Shining-green Hummingbird L. goudoti. A previous study by Mauricio Fiorenzano and partners contributed valuable and new ecological data. Nevertheless, it is necessary to clarify the taxonomic status at molecular level. Although there are no taxonomic doubts surrounding the Santa Marta Sabrewing, its ecological and habitat requirements are little known, as is the case with the Blossomcrown.

The study area corresponds to three important ecosystems in Colombia: mangroves within Isla Salamanca National Park and Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, in the north of Colombia, where research will be carried out on the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird; humid forests of Cuchilla San Lorenzo and San José, in the southeast and north of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, research on the Santa Marta Sabrewing and the Blossomcrown subspecies A.f. floriceps will be carried out here; dry forests of the eastern slopes of the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes and the Nevado del Tolima, where the subspecies A.f. berlepschi of the Blossomcrown will be studied.

Localities with recent sightings will be visited during dry and rainy seasons in order to identify food and habitat requirements and make observations of breeding behaviour. Blood samples will be collected in order to sequence mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to clarify the taxonomic status of two subspecies. Later results obtained from fieldwork will be analysed using GIS tools to propose important conservation areas and to define species ranges and distributions for these hummingbirds.

We hope that local communities will participate, share knowledge and propose solutions for the conservation of these hummingbirds and their habitat. A new understanding of the species in question will make a valuable contribution to science and ornithology in Colombia.