Hylonympha macrocerca
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird, *Hylonympha macrocerca*, is an exceptionally striking and unique member of the hummingbird family, endemic to a specific region of northeastern Venezuela. Males are instantly recognizable by their extraordinary, deeply forked, dark violet-blue tails, which can reach an impressive 10-15 cm in length, contributing significantly to their total body length of 19-22 cm. Their head, throat, and upper chest shimmer with a deep violet-blue, contrasting with an emerald ...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, favoring the forest interior and edges. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 meters above sea level.
Their diet primarily consists of nectar, extracted from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with long corollas. They also supplement their diet with small arthropods, which are caught on the wing or gleaned from foliage.
Scissor-tailed Hummingbirds are generally solitary, spending their days actively foraging for nectar and insects. They exhibit a 'traplining' foraging strategy, systematically visiting a circuit of flowering plants rather than defending a single territory of flowers, though males can be aggressiv...
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is a regional endemic, found exclusively in the coastal mountain ranges of northeastern Venezuela. Its distribution is restricted to the Cordillera de la Costa, specifically in the states of Sucre and Monagas, with a disjunct population in the Turimiquire Massif. Th...
Endangered
- The male Scissor-tailed Hummingbird boasts one of the longest tails relative to its body size among all bird species, often exceeding 15 cm. - Despite its striking appearance, detailed studies of its breeding biology and specific courtship behaviors are still relatively scarce due to its remote...