Elliotomyia viridicauda
The Green-and-white Hummingbird (Elliotomyia viridicauda) is a petite and dazzling species, typically measuring 8.5 to 9.5 cm in length with a wingspan of 11-13 cm and weighing a mere 3.5-4.5 grams. Males boast iridescent emerald-green upperparts that shimmer with every movement, contrasting sharply with pristine, snow-white underparts and flanks. A key field mark for males is their unique, deeply forked tail, tipped with an intense, iridescent blue-green, and a small, often overlooked violet...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane cloud forests and subtropical rainforest edges, preferring elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 meters. It can also be found in secondary growth and partially disturbed forest clearings with abundant flowering plants.
Mainly feeds on nectar from a diverse array of tubular flowers, supplemented by small arthropods (spiders, insects) caught in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
The Green-and-white Hummingbird is predominantly diurnal, actively foraging from dawn until dusk, often roosting communally in dense, sheltered vegetation during the night to conserve energy. Males are highly territorial, aggressively defending prime feeding territories that contain favored necta...
The Green-and-white Hummingbird is a resident species primarily found along the Andean cordillera, with its core breeding and year-round range extending from southern Colombia through Ecuador and into northern Peru. It shows minor altitudinal movements, descending to lower elevations during the d...
Least Concern
- Despite its small size, the Green-and-white Hummingbird can beat its wings up to 80 times per second, creating a distinctive hum. - To survive cold nights or periods of low food availability, it can enter a state of torpor, drastically slowing its metabolism and heart rate. - Males use their ir...