Polyonymus caroli
The Bronze-tailed Comet (*Polyonymus caroli*) is a truly distinctive, medium-sized hummingbird, endemic to the high-altitude arid Andes of Peru. Males, measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length (including their notably long, deeply forked tail, which can be up to half its body length) and weighing 5-8 grams, are resplendent with an iridescent emerald-green crown, throat, and chest, contrasted by a bronzy-green back. Their most striking feature, lending them their common name, is the rich, da...
This specialized hummingbird inhabits arid montane scrub, rocky slopes, and canyon bottoms within the high Andes of Peru, typically found at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 meters (6,600 to 13,100 feet). It favors open, dry woodlands often interspersed with cacti, bromeliads, and other dro...
The Bronze-tailed Comet primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of flowers, particularly those adapted to arid environments like cacti and bromeliads, obtained via hovering. It supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, which are either caught in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
The Bronze-tailed Comet exhibits typical hummingbird activity patterns, being diurnal and highly active during daylight hours, often perching inconspicuously at dusk to roost. Males are intensely territorial, aggressively defending prime feeding grounds and potential nesting sites from rivals and...
The Bronze-tailed Comet is an avian gem strictly endemic to the intermontane valleys and dry, scrubby slopes of the western and central Andes in northern and central Peru. Its distribution is quite restricted, primarily occurring in departments such as Cajamarca, La Libertad, Ancash, Lima, Huánuc...
Least Concern
- The Bronze-tailed Comet is the sole species in its genus, *Polyonymus*, making it truly unique among hummingbirds with no direct living relatives within the genus. - Its spectacular bronze-green, deeply forked tail can account for nearly half of its total body length, making it one of the most ...