Chlorostilbon mellisugus
The Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) is a captivating and widespread hummingbird, epitomizing the family's dazzling iridescence. Males boast brilliant grass-green plumage, particularly vibrant on the back and underparts, culminating in a strikingly deeply forked, steely blue to blackish-blue tail, measuring approximately 7.5-9 cm (3.0-3.5 in) in length and weighing a mere 2.5-3.5 grams. Their straight, black bill often exhibits a reddish or yellow base to the lower mandible. Fem...
This adaptable hummingbird thrives in semi-open and disturbed habitats, including forest edges, clearings, gardens, plantations, and urban parks, typically from sea level up to 2,000-2,500 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of nectar from a diverse array of flowering plants, supplemented by small arthropods, such as insects and spiders, caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Blue-tailed Emeralds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days darting between flowers and hawking for insects. They are primarily solitary, though several individuals may gather at abundant food sources, often exhibiting territoriality over favored flower patches against conspecifics an...
The Blue-tailed Emerald boasts an expansive range across northern and central South America, extending from the Caribbean coast of Colombia and Venezuela eastward through the Guianas and northern Brazil. Its distribution continues south through central Brazil, reaching into Bolivia, Paraguay, and...
Least Concern
- The Blue-tailed Emerald is one of the most widely distributed hummingbirds across South America, showcasing remarkable adaptability to various environments. - Its scientific name, *mellisugus*, literally translates from Latin as 'honey-sucking,' a direct nod to its primary diet. - Males possess...