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©Dr. Ross Hawkins
Juan Fernandez Firecrown, a Critically Endangered Species
The stunning Juan Fernández Firecrown hummingbird (Sephanoides fernandensis) is found only on tiny Robinson Crusoe Island, located nearly four hundred miles off the west coast of Chile. A closely related species, Sephanoides fernandensis leyboldi, appears to have gone extinct on the neighboring Alejandro Selkirk Island, illustrating that the risk of extinction is real.
At nearly 5 inches long, this is a large hummingbird and it is unusual in several ways. First, it often feeds by hanging upside down while drinking the nectar of its favorite flower on the critically endangered Cabbage Tree (Dendroseris litoralis). This is not a unique characteristic: several high-elevation hummingbirds cling to flowers and hang upside down while they feed, probably to conserve energy in the thin air. But it is unusual for a low-elevation hummingbird to do so. The most likely explanation for this behavior is that the island is so windy that gripping the flowers makes it easier to feed and almost essential to survival. Unfortunately, this behavior also makes the Juan Fernández Firecrown susceptible to predation, especially by cats that have been introduced to the island.
Another unusual feature of this species is that males and females are both spectacular, but in very different ways. For many years people thought they were two different species. The males have dark wings and a deep russet body with a "firecrown" that can appear dark cinnamon brown to electric lemon-green to a fiery orange-red, depending on the angle of view. Females, on the other hand, have white undersides speckled with green, an iridescent green back and a vibrant bright blue-purple crown.
Conservation Efforts
The Juan Fernández Firecrown's population has suffered due to habitat degradation caused by invasive plants and introduced animals that eat the native vegetation, and as mentioned before, predation by cats and other introduced species.
The International Hummingbird Society (IHS) has long supported efforts to protect the Juan Fernandez Firecrown. In fact, our lifetime members are called "Juan Fernández Firecrown" members. IHS founder Ross Hawkins visited Robinson Crusoe island more than once to see this hummingbird first-hand and observe the obstacles it faces. The current executive director, Alice Madar, will be taking a (self-funded) trip in 2025 to learn more about these birds and their survival status today. While there, she will meet with representatives of Oikonos who are working with island residents to protect the Firecrown.
Projects include building local pride and awareness of these hummingbirds, invasive plant control, habitat restoration, and management of nonnative predators. Oikonos has also worked with teams of veterinarians from Chilean universities to spay and neuter pet cats, and to develop a pet registry to more easily distinguish between household and feral cats.
An Island Teeming with Unique Plants and Birds
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, BirdLifeInternational, the Alliance for Zero Extinction, and the World WildlifeFund highlight the islands of the Juan Fernández Archipelago as one of the most ecologically vulnerable ecosystems in the world. The islands are sixty-one times richer in endemic plant species per square kilometer and thirteen times greater in endemic bird richness than the Galápagos.
This hummingbird and its home are a unique treasure. By supporting the International Hummingbird Society, you help us fund projects that protect the Juan Fernández Firecrown and support our work raising awareness of the fragile future these birds face.
Donate to our Conservation Fund here:
Please visit our Apparel Store to purchase a shirt or hoodie in support of the Juan Fernández Firecrown. The shirts feature artwork created by celebrated bird artist Julie Zickefoose—a great gift for a friend or for you!
