Heliodoxa rubricauda
The Brazilian Ruby (Heliodoxa rubricauda) is a stunning medium-sized hummingbird, immediately recognizable by the male's brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget and glittering emerald-green body plumage. Males typically measure 11-12 cm in length and weigh around 5.5 grams, while females are slightly smaller at 9-10 cm and about 4.5 grams. A distinctive white post-ocular stripe and, most notably, a striking rufous or chestnut tail (which is unique within its genus, Heliodoxa) serve as key field ...
Found primarily in the humid Atlantic Forest biome of eastern Brazil, inhabiting forest borders, secondary growth, clearings, and even gardens, from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on nectar collected from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with tubular flowers, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Brazilian Rubies are active diurnal birds, often seen foraging from dawn to dusk, and typically roost solitarily in protected vegetation at night. They employ a traplining foraging strategy, methodically visiting a circuit of flowering plants for nectar, though they will also glean small arthropo...
The Brazilian Ruby is endemic to the humid Atlantic Forest region of eastern Brazil, with its distribution extending from southern Bahia state southwards through Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, reaching its southernmost limit in Santa Catarina and northern Rio Grande ...
Least Concern
- The Brazilian Ruby is the only species in the genus Heliodoxa (the 'brilliant-emeralds') to possess a rufous or chestnut-colored tail, making it a unique identifier. - Males showcase an incredibly vibrant, iridescent ruby-red gorget that can appear black in poor lighting, only flashing its true...