Eupherusa eximia
The Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa eximia) is a dazzling jewel of the Neotropical cloud forests, instantly recognizable by its namesake tail pattern. Males typically boast brilliant iridescent green plumage across their upperparts, crown, and underparts, often with a striking white post-ocular spot contrasting with a dusky ear patch. The most distinctive feature, however, is the tail: dark central rectrices flanked by broad white outer tail feathers, creating a bold striped appearance t...
Primarily inhabits humid evergreen and semi-deciduous montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges. Typically found at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,400 meters (3,000-8,000 feet) above sea level.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, often showing a preference for red or tubular flowers. Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, gleaned from foliage or caught in mid-air (hawking).
Stripe-tailed Hummingbirds are active during daylight hours, often engaging in trap-lining behavior where they visit a regular circuit of flowers. Males are territorial, aggressively defending rich flower patches against conspecifics and other hummingbird species through aerial chases and vocaliz...
The Stripe-tailed Hummingbird boasts a disjunct distribution across Central America, encompassing areas from southeastern Mexico south to western Panama. The northernmost populations are found in the humid mountains of Veracruz and Oaxaca, extending through Chiapas in southern Mexico. Its range c...
Least Concern
- The Stripe-tailed Hummingbird's distinctive tail pattern is unique among its sympatric hummingbird species, making it relatively easy to identify in the field. - Despite its preference for forest interiors, it can sometimes be seen in coffee plantations or shade-grown cacao farms where flowerin...