Amazilia tzacatl
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, *Amazilia tzacatl*, is a vibrant and widespread member of the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, easily recognized by its iridescent green plumage, conspicuous rufous tail, and a patch of white on its undertail coverts. Measuring about 10-12 cm (4-4.7 inches) in length and weighing a mere 4-5 grams, this species exhibits a bronzy-green back, iridescent emerald green throat and chest, and a dusky bill with a reddish-pink base on the lower mandible. While sexual dim...
Found in a variety of open to semi-open habitats, including forest edges, clearings, secondary growth, plantations, parks, and suburban gardens, primarily in humid and semi-humid environments from sea level up to 2,000 meters (occasionally higher).
Primarily consumes nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, often showing preferences for red or tubular flowers, supplemented by small insects and spiders captured in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds are highly active and diurnal, spending their days foraging and defending territories. They primarily forage by 'trap-lining,' visiting a circuit of flower patches, but will also aggressively defend rich flower sources against other hummingbirds and even larger birds. T...
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is a widespread resident species found from south-central Mexico through Central America, extending south into northern South America. Its breeding and year-round range encompasses areas from the Gulf slope of Mexico (southern Tamaulipas) south through the Yucatán Pe...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird can beat its wings up to 70 times per second during normal flight and over 200 times per second during courtship dives. - Despite its small size, it is notoriously aggressive, often chasing away larger birds and even other hummingbird species from its feeding terri...