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You’re probably familiar with the hummingbirds that visit your backyard, but one species that was thought to be extinct was recently rediscovered!
The Blue-bearded Helmetcrest is a hummingbird that hadn’t been seen since the 1940s until researchers in Colombia spotted some while out in the field. The Helmetcrests are quite strange-looking too! They have head tufts like a cardinal and a funny throat patch that looks like an old man’s beard.
The rediscovery has thrilled the science world, but they’re also concerned that the crazy-plumed birds are still in danger of going extinct. Why? The researchers say that their habitat is being burned by people hoping to transform the jungle into pastures for cattle and pigs. Your class can help the plight of the Blue-bearded Helmetcrest at the researchers’ website, ProAves. You’ll also get a lesson in Spanish, too!
While you won’t see any Helmetcrests visiting a hummingbird feeder near you, offering nectar to your neighborhood hummingbirds is a great way to experience the little beauties that visit the U.S. and Canada every summer.
