Kerin Bentley
Unpublished material
A field study of Hummingbird Behavior during June 2007 at La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica
http://science.nature.nps.gov/nrdata
Hummingbirds are known to change their foraging behavior based on food availability and nectar abundance. They can act as indicators for environmental change for the tropical wet rainforest. For the first time, this study examines hummingbird daily activities in the forest of Estación Biologíca de La Suerte in Costa Rica. A database of 353 observation events is presented. The overall goal is to quantify the frequency of selected behaviors, (i.e. Drinking, Vocalization, Nesting, Social Interactions, Hovering, Sitting), and the amount of time spent performing them. In addition, the preferred type of forest environment is also examined (i.e. forest level and exposure). This data is collected May 28 til June 12 2007, and represents a student project in the framework of a field school of the course 'Rainforest Ecology'.
This study is intended to assess whether there is a behavior daily routine, a concept never before studied at La Suerte, Costa Rica.
Kricher, J. 1997. A Neotropical Companion. Princeton University Press, Princeton New Jersey, USA.
20070530
20070616
publication date
The Small and Large Forests at La Suerte Biological Field Station,
in Costa Rica.
83.77
83.77
10.43
10.43
None
Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Behavior
Study of Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Selected Behavior Hummingbird Behavior and Time of Day
Rubiacaeae Palicourea sp.
Heliconia Imbricata
La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica
Chalybura urochrysia
Amazilia saucerrottei
Thaluranis colombica
Florisuga mellivora
Klais guimeti
Florisuga mellivora
Anthracothorax prevostii
Phaethornis superciliosus
Phaethornis longuemareus
Glaucis aenea
Amazilia tzacatl
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Bronzy Hermit
Little Hermit
Long-tailed Hermit
Green Breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
White Necked Jacobin
Crowned Woodnymph
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Red-footed Plumeleteer
Nectivore
Nectar feeder
Nectivorial foraging
Annoaceae
Ocotea babosa
Lauraceae
Inga marginata
Leguminosae
Forest Level
Forest Exposure
Behavior Time
Drinking
Hovering
Sitting
Flying
Nesting
Social Interaction
Vocalization
Flower
Kerin Bentley
Falk Huettmann
National Park Service Theme Category Thesaurus
Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Behavior
Study of Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Selected Behavior Hummingbird Behavior and Time of Day
Rubiacaeae Palicourea sp.
Heliconia Imbricata
La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica
Chalybura urochrysia
Amazilia saucerrottei
Thaluranis colombica
Florisuga mellivora
Klais guimeti
Florisuga mellivora
Anthracothorax prevostii
Phaethornis superciliosus
Phaethornis longuemareus
Glaucis aenea
Amazilia tzacatl
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Bronzy Hermit
Little Hermit
Long-tailed Hermit
Green Breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
White Necked Jacobin
Crowned Woodnymph
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Red-footed Plumeleteer
Nectivore
Nectar feeder
Nectivorial foraging
Annoaceae
Ocotea babosa
Lauraceae
Inga marginata
Leguminosae
Forest Level
Forest Exposure
Behavior Time
Drinking
Hovering
Sitting
Flying
Nesting
Social Interaction
Vocalization
Flower
Kerin Bentley
Falk Huettmann
ISO 19115 Topic Category
Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Behavior
Study of Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Selected Behavior Hummingbird Behavior and Time of Day
Rubiacaeae Palicourea sp.
Heliconia Imbricata
La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica
Chalybura urochrysia
Amazilia saucerrottei
Thaluranis colombica
Florisuga mellivora
Klais guimeti
Florisuga mellivora
Anthracothorax prevostii
Phaethornis superciliosus
Phaethornis longuemareus
Glaucis aenea
Amazilia tzacatl
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Bronzy Hermit
Little Hermit
Long-tailed Hermit
Green Breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
White Necked Jacobin
Crowned Woodnymph
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Red-footed Plumeleteer
Nectivore
Nectar feeder
Nectivorial foraging
Annoaceae
Ocotea babosa
Lauraceae
Inga marginata
Leguminosae
Forest Level
Forest Exposure
Behavior Time
Drinking
Hovering
Sitting
Flying
Nesting
Social Interaction
Vocalization
Flower
Kerin Bentley
Falk Huettmann
None
La Suerte Biological Field Station
Small Forest at La Suerte
Biological Field Station
Large Forest at La Suerte Biological Field Station
Cariari region
Costa Rica
None
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
Red-footed Plumeleteer (Chalybura urochrysia)
Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerrottei)
Violet-headed Hummingbird ((Klais guimeti
Bronzy Hermit (Glaucis aenea)
Red-footed Plumeleteer (Chalybura urochrysia)
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora)
Crowned Woodnymph (Thaluranis colombica)
Green Breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)
Long-tailed Hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus)
Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus)
collection
multiple species
single species
animals
Unknown
Unknown
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) online at http://www.itis.gov/
field guide was used: Birds of Costa Rica
All birds that could be observed and identified were included in this dataset.
All birds that could be observed and identified were included in this dataset.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Aves
Order
Apodiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Subfamily
Phaethornithinae
Genus
Glaucis
Species
Glaucis aeneus
Bronzy Hermit
Genus
Phaethornis
Species
Phaethornis longuemareus
Ermitaño enano
Species
Phaethornis superciliosus
Long-tailed Hermit
Subfamily
Trochilinae
Genus
Amazilia
Species
Amazilia saucerrottei
Steely-vented Hummingbird
Species
Amazilia tzacatl
Colibrí cola rojiza
Genus
Anthracothorax
Species
Anthracothorax prevostii
Green-breasted Mango
Genus
Chalybura
Species
Chalybura urochrysia
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Genus
Florisuga
Species
Florisuga mellivora
White-necked Jacobin
Genus
Klais
Species
Klais guimeti
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Genus
Thalurania
Species
Thalurania colombica
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
None
None.
Suggest to refer to methods and contact authors for accurate use and interpretation of data and findings.
Kerin Bentley
La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica
Excel
none used, other than Excel
The accuracy is based on observation of species within the family Trochilidae, specifically Hummingbirds, in both the Small Forest and Large Forest locations at La Suerte Biological Field Station.
Focus is on 11 hummingbird species (based on what could be indentified in the field), other species occur in the area.
The study at La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica, was completed during the dates of May 30, 2007 through June 16, 2007.
na
Field
None
Kerin Bentley
observation and collection
Methods (as taken from the study report):
This study was performed at La Estación Biologíca de La Suerte in Pococí, Limón, Costa Rica at 83.77 degrees longitude and 10.43 degrees latitude. The field station at La Suerte is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in the Río Frío district at approximately 50m (150ft) elevation. La Suerte has been both a farm and a plantation in the past but has been managed as a conservation site for over 12 years. The regeneration process has produced two forests. The 'Small Forest' is classified as a primary forest or jungle. The 'Large Forest' is classified as a secondary forest or jungle. The Small Forest is c. 28 hectares in size. The Large Forest is c. 100 hectares in size. The weather conditions in the rainy season, the season during which this study was conducted, are hot, humid and drier than usual. Rainfall usually occurs in the evening and night. La Suerte accumulates approximately 4000 mm of precipitation per year (Clark et al, 1990).
To collect data, the hummingbird first needs to be detected in direct view. The hummingbird then is watched until it started a new behavioral activity while in view. As soon as the hummingbird commences that activity, the stop watch is started. The stop watch used for this study is a Timex: Ironman Triathlon digital wrist watch. Once the hummingbird stops this activity, the stop watch is immediately stopped and the time is recorded. This entire activity can be termed hereafter as an "event". Each event is then described as any of the following: Drinking, Vocalizing, Sitting, Hovering, Flying, Chasing, Being Chased, Playing, Nesting or Fighting. Playing is defined as two or more birds switching off between chasing and being chased within their social interaction event. Fighting is defined as aggressively violent attacks on another hummingbird. Drinking is defined as any time the beak contacted the flower for nectar. Hovering is defined as a maintained stationary aerial position. Nesting is defined as any time a bird entered, left or maintained a nest.
Once the behavior time is recorded, the behavior type is recorded. If the event is "Drinking", then the number of times the individual contacted the flower is recorded. The time of day is observed as a span of time spent observing the individual. This span usually lasts 60 seconds. The type of species is recorded as well as gender if the gender is obvious by coloration. If the species is unknown but the coloration is apparent, then the body description is taken for later classification using A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch (1989). If the individual remains unclassified even after consulting the literature, then it is termed as "Unidentified". If the angle of viewing prevents species identification, it also was termed as "Unidentified". It is known that the neck area of males, called gorgets, are dull at certain angle and so their coloration can only be fully realized at angles of direct sunlight (Kricher 1997, page 261). Also events at sunset (around 6pm) can make it too dim for classification.
The plant species is also recorded, if a plant species is involved in the event. If a plant is unknown, then the sample is taken back to the La Suerte library for later identification using textbooks and literature. Photos for later identification were taken if a plant sample could not be attained. The plant height and flower height of that plant are approximated in meters. The forest level is determined as ground level, subcanopy level and canopy level. The Ground Level is defined as less than six meters. The Subcanopy Level is defined as six to 12 meters. The Canopy Level is above 12 meters. The exposure level is also measured by approximating how many angles of direct viewing were possible. The options are "None", "Slight", "Moderate", "Exposed" and "Very Exposed". "None" are defined as being in thick forest so the individual stayed in view with great difficulty. "Slight" is defined as approximately 90 degrees of direct view to the individual. "Moderate" is defined as approximately 180 degrees of direct view. "Exposed" is defined as approximately 270 degrees of direct view. "Very Exposed" is defined as approximately 360 degrees of direct view. Lastly, the trail location is recorded as well as any extra comments on the event.
Observation periods or survey efforts, were not uniform on a daily basis due to weather conditions or class schedule; however, all times of day between 5am and 6:30pm were accounted for more than once to provide enough data to assess if a general hummingbird schedule of activity exists. If a data entry of an event was not clearly or not entirely captured in the observation, the data was not recorded.
It must be realized that not all behaviors were captured. This type of sampling, continuous sampling, means that only one observation can be properly recorded at one time (Martin and Bateson 2005, page 89). This can be an issue if more than one individual is in the area. It affected the study by inhibiting the collection of data regarding the overall amount of activity in the area. If more than one hummingbird was performing the same activity at the same time, then one event was lost so that the other hummingbird could be studied. Also, some actions start out of view or cannot be anticipated, such as vocalization or social interactions that start in direct view but quickly end out of sight. Vocalization was recorded only when the watch started as soon as the chirping began. The social interactions that continue beyond viewing were not included as well.
Kerin Bentley
Unknown
No process steps have been described for this data set
Unknown
Maps provided by La Suerte Biological Field station of the Small and Large Forests
Point
0.001
0.001
Decimal degrees
Kerin_Bentley_Raw_Data_LaSuerte_2007
Excel sheet
Kerin Bentley
Event Number
Number of Event Observation. A Number of Event Observation (1,2,3...etc.) was assigned to each data point as it was collected over the course of the study. This is for organizational purposes only.
Kerin Bentley
20070525
20070616
Day
The day of the event was observed. The day in the month was recorded as soon as the data were observed.
Kerin Bentley
Month
Month of the data point observation. The month of the data were recorded as soon as the event was observed.
Kerin Bentley
Year
The year during which the data were collected.
Kerin Bentley
Trail Label
The Trail marker delinated by La Suerte Biological Field Station. These trail markers were positioned every few meters to mark the location on the trail. This was recorded to mark the site where an event was observed.
Kerin Bentley
Longitude
Vertical Marker on the Earth's surface determined by a Global Positioning System. The longitude was collected as one reading since the GPS did not work very well within the Forests. This reading was taken at the La Suerte Biological Field Station Main House.
Kerin Bentley
Latitude
Horizontal markers along the Earth's surface determined by a Global Positioning System that shows how far away the GPS is from the equator. The latitude was taken as one reading since the GPS did not work in the Forest. This was taken at La Suerte Biological Field Station Main House.
Kerin Bentley
Forest Name
The Forest Name is the delination of which forest the data event was observed. The data were observed in either the Small Forest or Large Forest. This was recorded at the time of each event observation.
Kerin Bentley
Study Location
The place in Costa Rica where the data were collected. This Study Location was La Suerte, Costa Rica at the Field Station.
Kerin Bentley
Species Name
The common name of the hummingbird performing the event observed. The common name was recorded as soon as the individual hummingbird observed could be identified.
Kerin Bentley
Scientific Name
The Latin name given to a individual classified as Genus, Species. The scientific names for the hummingbirds observed were found in A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica, by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander F. Skutch, 1989. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Kerin Bentley
Start Time
The Start Time marks the beginning of the window of observation for the hummingbird individual. It also serves to point out what time of day the event was observed.
Kerin Bentley
Observation Interval (sec)
How long in seconds an individual was observed. This is not just the amount of time an event was peformed and timed. This also includes the total amount of time observing the individual in order to observe an entire behavioral event.
Kerin Bentley
Behavior Type
The Behavior Type is the kind of selected behavior of hummingbirds that was observed. Behavior type includes the following possibilities: Drinking, Nesting, Hovering, Sitting, Vocalization, Fighting, Playing, Chasing, Chased, Flying
Kerin Bentley
Behavior Time (sec)
The Behavior Time is how long the hummingbird is observed performing the timed individual event in seconds. The behavior time (sec) does not include any observation of hummingbirds that is not timed.
Kerin Bentley
Plant Species
If a hummingbird event occurred on a plant then the plant species latin name was recorded, if it was possible to be identified.
Kerin Bentley
Approximate Plant Height (m)
The total height of the plant that the hummingbird interacted with approximately in meters.
Kerin Bentley
Approximate Flower Height (m)
How high the flower exists where the hummingbird drank or performed the behavior.
Kerin Bentley
Feeding: # Events
For the behavior of drinking, Feeding # Events marks how many times the hummingbird contacted the flower in order to drink.
Kerin Bentley
Forest Level
Forest level is where in the forest strata the hummingbird performed the behavior event. This could be either at ground level, subcanopy level or canopy level.
Kerin Bentley
Forest Exposure
Forest Exposure marks how exposed to direct view the hummingbird is while it performs the behavioral event. The possibilities are None, Slight, Moderate, Exposed, and Very Exposed.
Kerin Bentley
Observer
Who observed and recorded the data event.
Kerin Bentley
Comments
Any extra information that could be seen, including gender or pregnancy
Kerin Bentley
Kerin Bentley
mailing
6416 Westport Drive
Wilmington
North Carolina
28409
USA
KerinBentley@gmail.com
Kerin Bentley
None
20070616
Kerin Bentley and Falk Huettmann
EWHALE lab
University of Alaska-Fairbanks
mailing
419 Irving I
Fairbanks
Alaska
99775
USA
+1 907 474 7882
+1 907 474 7882
FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001.1-1999