Androdon aequatorialis
The Tooth-billed Hummingbird (*Androdon aequatorialis*) is a truly distinctive gem among the iridescent family of Trochilidae, primarily recognized by its uniquely serrated bill. Measuring 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in) in length and weighing a delicate 5-7 grams, both sexes display a largely dull green back, contrasting with strikingly white underparts heavily streaked with black. A faint rufous wash often graces the throat and upper breast, while rufous undertail coverts provide another key identifi...
Found in humid, subtropical to tropical montane evergreen forests, forest edges, and second growth, typically at elevations between 600-1,800 meters (2,000-5,900 feet).
Primarily small arthropods (spiders, insects) gleaned from vegetation, supplemented by nectar from small flowers like bromeliads, gesneriads, and Ericaceae.
The Tooth-billed Hummingbird exhibits a more deliberate and less frenetic demeanor than many of its high-energy relatives, often spending considerable time perched in the mid-story or understory of its forest habitat. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized, primarily involving "gleaning"-met...
The Tooth-billed Hummingbird is a resident species distributed along the Pacific slope of western Colombia, extending from Chocó south through Nariño. Its range continues into western Ecuador, reaching as far south as El Oro province. Additionally, isolated populations are found in extreme easter...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name *Androdon aequatorialis* means "tooth-male from Ecuador," referring to its unique bill and primary discovery location. - It is the only hummingbird species with a serrated, tooth-like bill, an adaptation primarily for insect hunting. - Unlike many hummingbirds that solely si...