Eupherusa poliocerca
The White-tailed Hummingbird, *Eupherusa poliocerca*, is a strikingly beautiful and distinctive species endemic to southwestern Mexico. Measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing a mere 4-5 grams, this medium-sized hummingbird boasts iridescent green plumage across its head and upperparts, which shimmers with coppery or golden hues in certain light. Its most distinctive field mark, giving the species its common name, is the pristine white tail, often tipped with dusky ...
This species primarily inhabits humid to semi-humid evergreen and pine-oak cloud forests, as well as shaded coffee plantations. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 600 to 1800 meters, though occasionally recorded lower or higher.
Their primary diet consists of nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented by small arthropods caught in flight or gleaned from foliage to obtain essential proteins.
White-tailed Hummingbirds are diurnal, actively foraging during daylight hours and likely roosting motionlessly at night to conserve energy. They employ a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flower patches, but also actively defend rich nectar sources from competitors. ...
The White-tailed Hummingbird is endemic to the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range in southwestern Mexico. Its range is restricted primarily to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with a more concentrated presence in the humid interior slopes of these highlands. There are no significant breeding o...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Hummingbird's brilliant white tail is one of the most distinctive in the hummingbird family, making it easily identifiable even in dense forest. - Like all hummingbirds, it has an incredibly high metabolic rate, requiring it to feed almost constantly throughout the day. - Despi...