HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHILIDAE) AS FRUGIVORES: A REVIEW AND THE FIRST RECORDS FROM ARGENTINA

Abstract · Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are characterized by their specialized nectar-feeding behavior. However, fruit consumption by hummingbirds has been reported as an occasional behavior. I present a review on hummingbird frugivory in the Americas, along with the first records from Argentina. There have been 23 reports on fruit-hummingbird interactions belonging to 15 hummingbird species and 10 plant species, with records ranging from Chile to the United States. Two Gilded Hummingbirds ( Hylocharis chrysura ) and one Glittering-bellied Emerald ( Chlorostilbon lucidus ) foraging on blue passionflower ( Passiflora caerulea ) fruits were observed in northeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Far from being rare events, hummingbirds accounted for a 23% of total bird-fruit interactions at my study area. My results suggest that fruit consumption by hummingbirds has a broad geographic range and may be more common than previously thought, at least in certain plant families, such as Cactaceae. Resumen · Colibries (Trochilidae) como frugivoros: una revision y primeros registros para Argentina Los colibries (Trochilidae) se caracterizan por su comportamiento especializado en el consumo de nectar. Sin embargo, se ha reportado el consumo de frutos como un comportamiento ocasional. Presento una revision de frugivoria por colibries en las Americas, junto con los primeros registros para Argentina. Registre 23 interacciones fruto-colibri para 15 especies de colibries y 10 especies de plantas, con reportes desde Chile hasta Estados Unidos. Observe dos Picaflores Bronceados ( Hylocharis chrysura ) y un Picaflor Comun ( Chlorostilbon lucidus ) alimentandose de frutos de Pasionaria ( Passiflora caerulea ) en el noreste de provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lejos de ser eventos raros, los colibries representaron un 23% del total de interacciones planta-ave en el noreste de Buenos Aires. Mis resultados sugieren que el consumo de frutos por colibries tiene un amplio rango geografico y podria ser mas comun de lo que se piensa, al menos en ciertas familias de plantas, como cactaceas.