Chaetocercus jourdanii
The Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) is a diminutive and dazzling hummingbird, one of the smallest species in the family Trochilidae, averaging a mere 6-7 cm (2.4-2.8 inches) in length and weighing just 2.5-3.5 grams. Males are particularly striking, showcasing an iridescent green back, a prominent white post-ocular spot, and a glittering magenta-purple to violet gorget, conspicuously bordered white below, contrasted by a rufous abdomen. Their most distinctive field mark is th...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, cloud forest edges, and secondary growth with scattered trees and scrub. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 900 to 2400 meters (3,000-8,000 feet), though locally it can occur up to 3000 meters.
Its primary diet consists of nectar, drawn from a wide variety of small flowering plants, complemented by small arthropods, including insects and spiders, which are hawked in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
The Rufous-shafted Woodstar is a solitary and diurnal hummingbird, constantly active throughout the day feeding. Its foraging strategy primarily involves hovering to sip nectar from a variety of small, short-corolla flowers, but it also adeptly hawks small insects and spiders on the wing or glean...
The Rufous-shafted Woodstar has a disjunct distribution across the Andes of South America, with three recognized subspecies. *Chaetocercus jourdanii jourdanii* is found in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Venezuela, particularly in the states of Aragua, Miranda, and Sucre. The subspecies *Chaet...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-shafted Woodstar is one of the smallest hummingbird species in the world, often compared to large bees in flight. - Its scientific genus name, *Chaetocercus*, translates from Greek to 'bristle-tailed', referring to the stiff, bristle-like shafts of the male's tail feathers. - Males p...