Environmentally Sensitive Species:
White-tailed Sabrewing Hummingbird
(Campylopterus ensipennis)
Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA), a statutory authority of the
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was formally established in
June 1995 as a result of the enactment of the Environment Management Act
in March of that year. Through its Environmentally Sensitive Species Rules,
2001 (ESS Rules 2001), the EMA has been declaring species of Trinidad
and Tobago to be protected according to criteria set out in the ESS Rules.
The designation of a species as “environmentally sensitive” is to meet one
or more of three general categories of objectives:
(a) conservation of biological diversity and protection of the environment
(b) sustainable economic and human development
(c) logistic support, e.g., environmental education, information sharing, etc
An Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) is any species:
• that is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago or, although not indigenous to
Trinidad and Tobago, is present in Trinidad and Tobago for a part of its life or
reproductive cycle
• that throughout all or a part of its range is, or is likely to become, in danger
of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the factors jeopardising it
continue to operate that is required to be protected for the purpose of meeting
the Government’s international obligations
Fig. 1: Map - Habitat Range of White-tailed Sabrewing in Tobago
White-tailed Sabrewing Hummingbird (Campylopterus ensipennis)
Description
The White-tailed Sabrewing is the largest hummingbird in Tobago, it is
described as being 12cm long and weighing approximately 10g, generally
bright green with dark blue throat and white moustachial streak, outer three
pairs of tail-feathers mainly white; with a slightly decurved black bill, about
1 inch in length (ffrench 1991 and Hilty 2003). The Sabrewing’s call is very
distinctive, it consists of a single chirping note with a roll in it (e.g. crreeet),
repeated at regular intervals from a fixed perch (ffrench 1991).
Fig. 2: Adult male
Fig. 3: Tail Feathers
Fig. 4: Wing primary feathers
Habitat
ffrench describes the habitat and status of the Sabrewing as being a previously
common resident in hill-forested areas of Tobago, but rare since hurricane
Flora in September 1963.
Hayes et al. (2000) found that Sabrewings were mostly recorded in relatively
mature montane forest at elevations above 282m, however birds were also
found in relatively open areas such as the edges of clearings, in patches of
forest in abandoned plantations and in regenerating forest less than 15m tall,
suggesting that the Sabrewings are flexible in their ecological requirements.
In Venezuela the species is a locally common resident of coffee plantations,
forest borders, and light woodland; they are much less numerous inside
montane forest. They are common in coffee, Heliconia patches, and second
growth at lower elevations. There is concern that because of their small
range, deforestation could become a threat (Hilty 2003).
Status
The White-tailed Sabrewing (Campylopterus ensipennis) is considered to
be globally Near Threatened (IUCN 2008). It is found in the Cordillera de Caripe
and Paria Peninsula, both in northeast Venezuela and in Tobago, West Indies
(Collar et al. 1992). The Tobago population was thought to be extinct after
hurricane Flora hit the Island in 1963 when almost all the island’s forest
was destroyed. The species was then “rediscovered” in 1974 (ffrench 1975,
1991). In its Venezuelan range (excepting the east Paria Peninsula), there
has been clearance of forest for agriculture and pasture as well as repeated
burning and understory removal for coffee. These destructions have resulted
in significant population declines.
Before hurricane Flora, Campylopterus ensipennis in Tobago was considered
a common resident in hill-forested areas and the montane forest of the Main
Ridge Forest Reserve (ffrench 1991). ffrench believed that his rediscovery of
the species in 1974 indicated a gradual re-establishing of the population.
Since then small numbers of Sabrewings have been recorded regularly in
the Louis d’Or Valley and in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve in northeast
Tobago (Rooks 1987).
It is important to note, however, that documented studies on the population
size and status of the White-tailed Sabrewing before hurricane Flora were
not found. It is therefore difficult to assess how much the event of the hurricane
affected the population size.
Threats
On Tobago, C. ensipennis is recovering from the devastating effects of hurricane
Flora in 1963. Data collected for an EMA-funded research project and previous
research conducted by Dr. Floyd Hayes, indicate that the status of the
White-tailed Sabrewing in Tobago is good. The population size is estimated to
be over 2300 individuals, the sex and age ratio of the population is good.
The Sabrewings are not presently under any threat by human activities that
are taking place in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve in Tobago. The reserve itself has been protected since 1765 and the Department of Natural Resource
and the Environment (DNRE) has been ensuring that the reserve remains
intact. There are no problems of illegal logging or habitat loss as a result of
human activities.
Management
Potential management options for Campylopterus ensipennis are:
• Continuous monitoring; data are essential for evaluating the effect of a hurricane
on the distribution and population size of the species
• Training of individuals to monitor Sabrewings
• Education / awareness programs
• Supplemental feeding. In the case of another devastating hurricane, supplemental
feeding might be possible. It may be possible to train Sabrewings to come to
feeders. Sugar water can possibly be used as a temporary food source.
References
Collar, N.J. et al. 1992. Threatened Birds of the Americas. The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book.
3rd ed., pt. 2. International Council for Birds Preservation, (now BirdLife International),
Cambridge, UK. 1150 pp.
ffrench, R.P. 1991. A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago. 2nd ed. Cornell University
Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 836 pp.
Hayes. F.E et al 2000. Breeding Biology of the White-tailed Sabrewing at Tobago, West
Indies. J. Field Ornithol., 71:
Hilty Steve. L. 2003. Birds of Venezuela. 2nd Ed. Princeton University Press.
Rooks, D. 1987. Bird observations in Tobago, December 1985 to November 1987. Living
World (J. Trin. Tob. Field Nat. Club) 1987: 41-42
For further information
The Environmental Management Authority
#8 Elizabeth Street, St. Clair, Port of Spain
Tele: (868) 628-8042 / 8044-5; Fax: (868) 628-9122
Email: [email protected]
Website: ema.co.tt