Chlorostilbon russatus
The Coppery Emerald (*Chlorostilbon russatus*) is a small, vibrant hummingbird endemic to northern South America, immediately distinguishable by the male's striking iridescent coppery-green plumage. Measuring approximately 7.5-8.5 cm (3-3.3 inches) in length and weighing a mere 2.5-3.5 grams, it is a diminutive yet dazzling member of the family Trochilidae, commonly known as hummingbirds. Males boast brilliant coppery-green upperparts and underparts, a glittering gorget, a subtle white post-o...
Found in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, forest edges, open woodlands, coffee plantations, and gardens, typically at elevations between 500 and 1700 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, supplementing its diet with small insects and spiders caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Coppery Emeralds are diurnal and highly active, often entering a state of torpor on cold nights to conserve energy. Their foraging strategy primarily involves 'traplining,' where they visit a habitual circuit of flowering plants, but they also glean small insects and spiders from foliage or hawk ...
The Coppery Emerald is a resident species primarily found in northern South America, with its distribution spanning across specific regions of northeastern Colombia and western and northern Venezuela. In Colombia, it is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, notably in departments such as S...
Least Concern
- Despite their small size, Coppery Emeralds can beat their wings an astonishing 70-80 times per second. - Their specialized long, tubular tongue can extend far beyond their bill to efficiently extract nectar from deep flowers. - Like many hummingbirds, they can enter a state of torpor, a hiberna...