You may (or may not) have wondered about the inspiration behind the PeruNorth logo. Well, the animal we have chosen to symbolise Northern Peru is the Marvellous Spatuletail Hummingbird (Loddigesia mirabilis).
With Peru being home to some 20% of the world's bird species, numbering around 1,800, and 900 of those being found in the north of the country, with 40 endemics, there were rich pickings to choose from.
There are a multitude of hummingbird species in habitats ranging from the Amazon rainforest in the East, to the coastal desert in the West.
They can even be seen flitting from flower to flower in urban Lima.
However, the Spatuletail really stands out. Growing up to 15 cm (6 inches) in length, and found only on the forest edges, near the Utcubamba River (a tributary of the Amazon), in the Department of Amazonas, it is a real, unique, and endemic beauty.
The habitat of the Marvellous Spatuletail, in the valley of the Utcubamba River.
The male of the species has just four tail feathers, of which the two outer ones are long and racquet-shaped, crossing each other and ending in large violet-blue discs or 'spatules'.
These are twice the length of the bird's body, and can be moved independently to create a semaphore-like language that is vital to send the right signals during courtship.
Around the first week of July, the Spatuletails go through their moult, whereby their 'spatules' drop off. Then they hide for about twenty days … reappearing in early August, but with very short 'spatules'.
By late September, those feathers have reached their usual length again.
The Marvellous Spatuletail gets its name from its remarkable tail feathers.
Aside from this remarkable feature, the Spatuletail has beautiful colouring. It is white, green and bronze, adorned with blue crest feathers, a brilliant turquoise gorget (throat), and a black line on its white underparts.
It is sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females exhibit different characteristics: in this case, the female's tail is much shorter - although it still shows the drop-shaped racquets - has a white gorget and lacks black on her underparts.
Sadly, encroachment on the Spatuletail's already small habitat means that the species is endangered.
It is also believed by the local community that the dried hearts of the males have aphrodisiac properties, which has led to hunting and exacerbated the decline.
However, a Peruvian NGO, ECOAN, in conjunction with the American Bird Conservancy, has created the Huembo Reserve, 20 km (12 miles) from the town of Pedro Ruiz, and about an hour's drive north of Gocta Waterfall, in Amazonas.
The entrance to the Huembo Reserve, with the Marvellous Spatuletail featuring prominently.
This is a 100-acre 'conservation easement' with the nearby Pomacochas Community, aimed at protecting and managing significant habitat for the Spatuletail.
Here, feeders attract a wide variety of bird species, but with patience, you can expect to see the rare Spatuletail.
To photograph them requires a good camera, with fast shutter speed, as they are never still for very long!
How to see the Marvellous Spatuletail Hummingbird:
A visit to the Huembo Reserve is a must for any serious birder, and so included on both our 21-day and 15-day birding itineraries, as well as a highlight on the shorter Northern Andes & Marañon Endemics Birding trip.
We can also include a stop here on any journey between Tarapoto and Chachapoyas. Just ask us how.
Marvellous.
Some people are even more attached to the Marvellous Spatuletail Hummingbird than us!
What our clients say about Huembo Reserve:
“The next day we returned to Tarapoto via private transportation, this time stopping at a bird sanctuary where we were able to see the spatula-tailed hummingbird.
This was a quick and worthwhile stop with a beautiful view.”
“What we also enjoyed was the travel to a couple of bird sanctuary and we were able to see the famous Spatuletail Hummingbird among other beautiful, unique hummingbird species.”