Metallura phoebe
The Black Metaltail (Metallura phoebe) is a stunning medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 in) in length and weighing 4.5-5.5 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a sooty black, providing a stark backdrop for its dazzling iridescent features. Males sport a fiery bronze-green gorget that can flash vibrant hues, alongside a deeply forked tail that shifts from coppery-bronze to violet or blue in direct sunlight—the namesake "metaltail" characteristic. Females exhibit...
This species thrives in high-altitude open scrub, arid montane slopes, and bushy ravines within the Andes, typically at elevations between 2,700 and 4,600 meters (8,900–15,100 ft). It often frequents forest edges and areas with rocky outcrops.
The diet of the Black Metaltail consists primarily of nectar gathered from various high-altitude flowering plants. They supplement this with small insects, such as gnats and flies, captured in flight.
Black Metaltails are diurnal, active primarily during daylight hours, often seen perching conspicuously on shrubs or rocks within their high-altitude domain. Their primary foraging strategy involves hovering to extract nectar from a variety of high-Andean flowering plants, but they also adeptly h...
The Black Metaltail is endemic to the Andes mountains of Peru, distributed widely across the central and southern portions of the country. Its breeding range extends from the departments of La Libertad south through Ancash, Lima, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco, and Puno. This species is ...
Least Concern
- The Black Metaltail's scientific name, *Metallura phoebe*, literally means "metal tail, shining/bright," referencing its spectacular iridescent tail. - Despite its predominantly dark plumage, its gorget and tail can flash with colors ranging from coppery-bronze to violet and blue, rivaling jewe...