The Jamaica Mango Hummingbirds-
The Jamaican Mango
Hummingbirds/ also known as
The Black Hummingbirds or Black Mango
Hummingbird are only
Found on the Island of Jamaica. They are
particularly common along
The northern coastline, where they can
inhabit various levels of open lowlands that are at
the edges of the forests. At the
end of the flowering season these Amazing hummingbirds will
usually migrate to the south
In the mid-altitude areas of Jamaica. Also, they have been known to
Also go to the Blue and John Crow
Mountains.
I so much wanted to
find a different kinda of hummingbird that was from a very different area. And
only survived on a particular habitat as these gems do; The Jamaica
Mango's Hummingbirds with all their different names too.
These Hummingbirds
are quite beautiful-
They are plumage is
blackish with attractive iridescent magenta streaks on the cheek of the sides
of the head that go down to their neck, which is golden/oranges sheen on their shoulders if you will.
Their body is mostly blue, green, golden and bronze. With orange streak all
over most of their body. They have a black bill that is curved -down, which is very useful with the type of flowers and plants on
the Island for them to collect the nectar to drink.
Note; the juvenile
male Jamaican Mango has blue throats until they are about two
years old.
Their Diet-
The Jamaican Mangos
will feed primarily on the Brightly colored, scented small flowers of
trees, herbs and shrubs of the island. One is the Epiphytes, but their favorite flowers are the ones with the highest
sugar content. These flowers are usually red-colored and tube-shaped and will seek-out them
very aggressively. Once these Jamaican Mangos hummingbirds do find them, they will also protect those areas
containing the flowers with the high sugar nectar just as aggressively.
Their favor nectar
sources on the island of Jamaica are the flowers of large trees
such as the
Inga, Erythrina, Ceiba and the kapok too. Now I know these trees don't sound familiar to any boat, to our friends who are lucky to live
on the islands of Jamaica. I am sure they know what these types of trees are and what they even look
like.
How they get the
tasty sweet nectar is by their long extendible, straw-like tongues to retrieve
the sweet nectar while hovering over, under, sideways with their tails cocked
upwards as they are licking at the nectar up to 13times per second. Pretty fast
Eh!Sometimes these beauty's maybe even seen hanging on the flower while feeding
on the sweet nectar! Of course,
these games are well suited for this being that
their wings will move up to 80times per second!
Many of the native
and cultivated plants of the Jamaican Islands are whose
flower these gems feed
heavily on and they rely on them for pollination as well. The mostly
tubular-shaped flowers are actually
Exclude most bees and butterflies from feeding on them on the Island. So the Jamaican
Mango's are the only one's to keep the flower pollinated. This is also true
with many of the plants and trees on the Island too.
If you were
to live on the Island of Jamaica as does the locals you may see hummingbird
feeders for some sugar water they love to drink out of. This is also true with
the bird baths or water fountains where they will either hover and sip at the
water as it runs over the edge of his fountains; or they might be perched on the edge and then drink at the
fountains, but like all other birds of the island the Jamaican
Hummingbirds will only remain still for a short moment. As all hummingbirds
are.
These types of hummingbirds will also feed on
small spiders and insects too. It
is an important source of their diet because
it provides a good amount of protein, particularly
during the breeding season to ensure the proper development of their babies.
The insects are often caught in flight, by snatching them off a leaf or
branches in the tall trees. They will also take spiders from their webs too. A
nesting female can capture up to 2,000 insects a day for their young for the
proper growth.
How the Males will
establish a feeding territory to feed their young, in which they can
be very aggressive by casing any other male Jamaican Mango's away. Other males
as well as large insects such as the bumblebees and hawk moths that want to
feed in these Jamaican males territories will get cheesed off. They use aerial flights and intimidating
displays to defend their habits.
Breeding- These hummingbirds will nest year around, unlike most
hummingbirds that will do this
just once a year. Although the Jamaican Mango does have a favorite time to
breed which is from January and May.
These types of Hummingbirds are quite solitary
birds in all aspects of their lives.
The only part that would be neat is when they are breeding for their
young. The only time that the Male Jamaica Mango hummingbirds do get involved
is in the reproductive process which is the
actual mating with the females. They will either live either, nor migrate in flocks; and there is
not a pair bonding for these hummingbirds,
which is very different compared to some of their cousins in the U.S. Male Mango hummingbirds
will court females by flying in a u-shaped pattern in front of them. They will
separate from the female immediately after the two have copulated hehehe. From what i can
tell one male may mate with several females at once. Oh, My! That Island love!
In all likelihood, the female
will also mate with several males too. These are free spirted hummingbirds that
is what I can say! The males do not participate in choosing where the nest will
be located,built or the duties of the raising of the young.
The Nest-The female
is always responsible for building the tiny cup-shaped nest
out of plant fibers
woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in protected
locations in shrubs,bushes, or trees that are quite high-up. They may even take
advantage of man-made structures that are on the island too. These female
Jamaica Mango hummingbirds will line the nest with a soft plant fibers, animal
hair and feather down. They will also use the strength of the structure of the
spider web and other sticky material to give their nests an elastic like
quality to allow it to stretch to double its size as the chick grow and need
more room as they grow. The nest is typically found on a low, skinny horizontal
branch. The average amount is two white eggs, which she will incubate alone for
about 16 to 17 days, while the male defends his territory and the flowers he
feeds on. The young are born blind, immobile and without and down.
So these female
Mango's alone will protect and feed the chicks with regurgitated food - mostly
partially - digested insects since nectar is an insufficient food for the young
ones!
Now the young ones!
Are brooded only in the first week or two and left alone, even on the coolest
nights - which I guess happens on the island of Jamaica. After about 12days and
probably due to the small nest that they are in, with space being a big problem
how! The young ones will leave the nest when they are about 24days old
Their
Vocals- are quite different
too. Like most hummingbirds on the island the Jamaican Mango isn't very vocal,
but they do have some kinda sound - Its a high pitched sound like; .'Chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-'
call and a sharp 'chip" called the note. That can be occasionally heard, particularly
when they are chasing away intruders.
While these hummingbirds may be confined to the island of Jamaica, They are not
considered endangered species- This is done to Careful planning and plantation management
with wild - life friendly Techniques
And minimal
pesticide use can continue to preserve the Jamaica mangos and the increasing population
of feeding hummingbirds It also insures safe features for these hummingbirds in
a greater variety of locations around the island.
In some part of the
Island of Jamaica, where there are quiet a few of these beautiful Jamaican
Mango's and other kinds of hummingbirds it can be quite a fuse of blur of
colours as these gems beat their wings 80times a min. Creatively, this is how
the hummingbird goes their name- hum-hum that they are named after..
Here's a little bit of facts about the beauty of these gems of the hummingbird
that you might find interesting..
Despite their small
cranberry size hearts working overtime at 500 beats per minute. Just with
perching on a branch, hummingbirds can live up to 17years of age. These gems lean,
mean nectar machines, weight only at between 2-20 grams. To survive. They need
to consume twice their own body weight in nectar daily to survive.
Like all birds, In
the Hummingbird family the male has the breathtaking plumage. Their gorget or -
throat patch is made up of iridescent feathers brought alive by the chemical
carotenoid. [I didn't know that either-o)] These partially reflected the light,
causing the brilliant reds, purples, greens, and blues to be seen on these tiny
gems. The hummingbird can be feisty and downright frosty at having borders of
their feeding territory overstep, no matter if you are a fellow hummingbird or
even a crow or Raven - They will take you on and defend their territory or
habitat vigorously.
I hope that you
Enjoy this wonderful hummingbird..
The Jamaica Mango
hummingbird is for you all. Love you all, my dears. Wendy
