Here's the Marvelous Spatuletail from my just re-released Hummingbirds v2 ("Hummingbirds of South America"). The Marvelous Spatuletail is an endangered species restricted to the eastern slopes of the río Utcubamba valley (an affluent on the right bank of the Río Marañón) in the Cordillera del Colán, Amazonas, and one locality further east in San Martín, Northern Peru. It is endangered due to deforestation, which is widespread on the mountain slopes of the Cordillera del Colán (with much habitat cleared since 1978), and remaining forest under threat of conversion to cash-crops such as marijuana and coffee. 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 (3 females to 1 male). Currently, there are an estimated 250-999 mature individuals with a declining population trend. The male Marvellous Spatuletail is unique among birds, for it has just four feathers in its tail. While the male is 15-17 cm long, the tail adds another 11-13 cm. 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. In a mating display, he positions each spatula to the sides of his wings, flashing iridescence blue to attract females (as shown in my image). The females tail is elongated on the outer tail feathers, but lacks the racquet feathers. A protected area was set up under a conservation easement in 2006. Several organizations are currently working in partnership to conduct an education program, survey additional sites and raise funds for land acquisition in the La Florida region. American Bird Conservancy and its Peruvian partner group ECOAN created a community nature reserve, planting thousands of native hummingbird flowers, and developing a sustainable eco-tourism program. Over 30,000 saplings of native trees and bushes have since been planted there. This conservation easement is the first of its kind in Peru. Rendered in Iray without Postwork.