Image via Macaulay Library
Cuban Emerald
- Scientific name
- Riccordia ricordii
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Forest deciduous
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Cuban Emerald, Riccordia ricordii, is a species of hummingbird endemic to the island of Cuba and several nearby cays. Historically documented by naturalists in the 19th century, it emerged from the period of intensive Caribbean biological cataloging, where its vivid, iridescent green plumage and distinct morphological features—such as its pointed wings and notched tail—marked it as a subject of intense interest for ornithologists studying evolutionary radiation in island ecosystems.
The physical design of the Cuban Emerald is an adaptation evolved over millennia to navigate the dense, nectar-rich scrublands and forests of its native habitat. Scientists have long admired the bird's precise flight mechanics, which allow it to maneuver efficiently while feeding. Within the ornithological community, the species is recognized for its stable taxonomy and its role as a vital pollinator, representing a quintessential example of the specialized avian evolution found throughout the Greater Antilles.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Cuban Emerald
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