The Marvelous Spatuletail is the most endangered hummingbird on the planet. There are between 490-980 mature individuals found in Northern Peru. Its most remarkable feature is the male's two long racquet-shaped outer tail feathers that cross each other and end in large violet-blue discs or "spatules". He can move them independently. He position them to show off the iridescence blue discs to female. The reason for it's endangerment is the widespread deforestation on the mountain slopes of the Cordillera del Colán; much habitat cleared since 1978, and remaining forest under threat of conversion to cash-crops such as marijuana and coffee. However, the species’ apparent preference for forest edge and isolated woodlots on steep slopes may reduce its vulnerability to habitat alteration. Interviews with local inhabitants and enquiries in a nearby market town have revealed that dried hearts of the males of this species are believed to have aphrodisiac properties. Hunting with slingshots for this reason may even explain the skewed sexual ratio. Rendered in Poser 2012 w/o postwork. Models: Stonemason's Forest and my Songbird ReMix Hummingbird.