ASPECTOS DA BIOLOGIA E ABUNDÂNCIA DO BEIJA-FLOR-DE-GRAVATINHA-VERMELHA, AUGASTES LUMACHELLUS (LESSON, 1838) (AVES: TROCHILIDAE), EM MORRO DO CHAPÉU, BA

The abundance of Augastes lumachellus in Morro do Chapeu, State of Bahia, Brazil was 13 indiv./8.6 Km and Fr=0.283, surpassed only Phaethomis pretrei (14 indiv. /8,6 Km; Fr=0.304) Augastes lumachellus was exclusively found associated to montane scrubs ("campos rupestres"), where we also recorded Chrysolampis mosquitus, Chlorostibon aureoventris and Amazilia fimbriata . An adult male Augastes foraged over an area of 9,240 m2, with "Turk's cap"cactus ("cabeca-de-frade") ( Melocactus aff. salvadorensis ). Cactus flowers were visited in the afternoon (16:00-18:00), when their flowers open, and in the morning (6:00) when the male was catching insects in the same area. Among plant species visited by hummingbirds, the "hortela-bravo" ( Hyptis sp., Labiatae) was the most frequent. Studies on the natural history of endemic birds are of fundamental importance to the conservation of the biodiversity. Keywords: Trochilidae, Augastes lumachellus , abundance, foraging, montane scrubs, conservation. Descristores: Trochilidae, Augastes lumachellus , abundância, alimentacao, campos rupestres, conservacao.