ASPECTOS DA BIOLOGIA E ABUNDÂNCIA DO BEIJA-FLOR-DE-GRAVATINHA-VERMELHA, AUGASTES LUMACHELLUS (LESSON, 1838) (AVES: TROCHILIDAE), EM MORRO DO CHAPÉU, BA

Resumo

The abundance of Augastes lumachellus in Morro do Chapéu, State of Bahia, Brazil was 13 indiv./8.6 Km and Fr=0.283, surpassed only Phaethomis pretrei (14 indiv. /8,6 Km; Fr=0.304) Augastes lumachellus was exclusively found associated to montane scrubs ("campos rupestres"), where we also recorded Chrysolampis mosquitus, Chlorostibon aureoventris and Amazilia fimbriata. An adult male Augastes foraged over an area of 9,240 m2, with "Turk's cap"cactus ("cabeça-de-frade") (Melocactus aff. salvadorensis). Cactus flowers were visited in the afternoon (16:00-18:00), when their flowers open, and in the morning (6:00) when the male was catching insects in the same area. Among plant species visited by hummingbirds, the "hortelã-bravo" (Hyptis sp., Labiatae) was the most frequent. Studies on the natural history of endemic birds are of fundamental importance to the conservation of the biodiversity.

Keywords: Trochilidae, Augastes lumachellus, abundance, foraging, montane scrubs, conservation.

Descristores: Trochilidae, Augastes lumachellus, abundância, alimentação, campos rupestres, conservação.