Polytmus guainumbi
The White-tailed Goldenthroat, *Polytmus guainumbi*, is a vibrant and distinctive medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 5-6 grams. It is characterized by brilliant metallic green upperparts, a contrasting white belly, and its namesake white tail, often with dusky tips on the central rectrices. Males boast a dazzling golden-yellow throat patch, giving the species its common name, while females exhibit a duller throat, sometimes streaked or spe...
This species primarily inhabits open, humid environments such as savannas, grasslands, marshes, and shrubland, often near watercourses or wetlands, typically at elevations below 500 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of nectar gathered from various flowering plants, supplemented by small insects and spiders which provide essential protein.
White-tailed Goldenthroats are diurnal and highly active, frequently perching conspicuously on exposed branches or reeds from which they scan their surroundings. Their foraging strategy involves both trap-lining, where they repeatedly visit a circuit of flower patches, and opportunistic feeding, ...
The White-tailed Goldenthroat boasts an extensive and widespread distribution across northern and central South America, making it a resident species throughout much of its range. Its presence stretches from eastern Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, south through eastern Peru, Bolivia, Paragu...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Goldenthroat's striking white tail is a key field mark, easily distinguishing it from most other metallic-green hummingbirds. - Its long, decurved bill is a specialized tool, perfectly adapted for accessing nectar from deep, tubular flowers. - Unlike many forest-dwelling hummin...