Trochilus scitulus
The Black-billed Streamertail, *Trochilus scitulus*, is a dazzling hummingbird species, endemic to the eastern reaches of Jamaica. Males are unmistakable, featuring a brilliant iridescent green body, a distinctive black bill, and two exceptionally long, crossed black tail streamers that can more than double their body length, often reaching up to 18 cm (7 inches) beyond their 10 cm (4 inch) body. Females, while also a striking green, lack these dramatic streamers, possessing shorter tails and...
Inhabits moist limestone forests, wet montane forests, and cultivated gardens, typically found from near sea level up to elevations of 1,800 meters (6,000 ft).
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented with small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Black-billed Streamertails are active during daylight hours, often observed foraging intensely at dawn and dusk. Males are fiercely territorial, aggressively defending prime feeding patches and challenging rivals with aerial chases and sharp vocalizations. Courtship involves the male performing e...
The Black-billed Streamertail is strictly endemic to the island of Jamaica, specifically confined to the eastern parishes. Its primary distribution encompasses the Blue and John Crow Mountains, extending into the adjacent foothills and lowland areas of Portland, St. Thomas, and eastern St. Andrew...
Least Concern
- The male's tail streamers can reach over twice the length of its body, making it one of the longest-tailed birds relative to its size in the world. - It is one of only two bird species endemic to Jamaica, the other being its close relative, the Red-billed Streamertail. - Despite their delicate ...