Chlorostilbon poortmani
The Short-tailed Emerald (*Chlorostilbon poortmani*) is a diminutive, iridescent jewel of the Andean foothills, captivating birders with its vibrant plumage and rapid, darting flight. Males are predominantly brilliant metallic green across their upperparts, throat, and breast, transitioning to a white undertail coverts, and uniquely sport a distinct white post-ocular spot and a notably short, dark forked tail. Females, while still attractive, are duller with a bronze-green back, grayish-white...
Primarily inhabits humid montane forests, forest edges, shrubby clearings, and cultivated areas, often favoring intermediate elevations. It can be found from approximately 500 to 2500 meters (1,600-8,200 feet) above sea level.
Feeds primarily on nectar obtained from a wide variety of flowering plants, using its long, slender tongue to access deep floral tubes. Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, which are hawked in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Short-tailed Emeralds are highly active during daylight hours, often observed tirelessly foraging. They exhibit a 'traplining' foraging strategy, visiting a circuit of favorite flowering plants repeatedly. Males are territorial, aggressively defending rich feeding patches and favored perches from...
The Short-tailed Emerald is a resident species endemic to the northern Andes of South America, primarily distributed across Colombia and western Venezuela. In Colombia, it is found along the Central and Eastern Andes ranges, including the unique isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Its range ex...
Least Concern
- The male Short-tailed Emerald's tail is notably shorter than many other *Chlorostilbon* species, giving it its distinctive name. - Weighing just 2.5-3.5 grams, it's roughly the weight of two paperclips, making it one of the smallest hummingbirds in the Andes. - Its metabolism is so high that it...