Trochilus polytmus
The Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus) is an iconic and exquisitely beautiful hummingbird, endemic to Jamaica and renowned as its national bird. Males are instantly recognizable by their iridescent emerald-green plumage, velvety black head, and a brilliant red bill tipped with black. The most striking feature of the male is its two exceedingly long, streamer-like outer tail feathers, which can extend up to 18 cm, more than twice the length of its body, and trail gracefully during fl...
This adaptable hummingbird thrives in a variety of moist to semi-arid wooded habitats, including dense forests, forest edges, gardens, plantations, and parks. It is found from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1,800 meters.
Their primary diet consists of nectar, extracted from a wide array of flowering plants, but they also supplement this with small insects and spiders. Nectar is obtained through their long, extendable tongue while hovering, and insects are often caught in mid-air (hawking) or gleaned from foliage.
Red-billed Streamertails are highly active and diurnal, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects. Males are fiercely territorial, aggressively defending rich flower patches against other hummingbirds and even larger birds through aerial chases and vocalizations. During courtship, males...
The Red-billed Streamertail is strictly endemic to the island of Jamaica, where it is a widespread and common resident. Its distribution covers most of the island, from coastal lowlands to the mountainous interior. Two subspecies are recognized: *Trochilus polytmus polytmus*, which occupies the c...
Least Concern
- The Red-billed Streamertail is the national bird of Jamaica, often called the 'Doctor Bird' due to its long bill resembling a doctor's probe and its elegant tail feathers like a frock coat. - Males possess two extremely long outer tail feathers (streamers) that can reach up to 18 cm, more than ...