Black-tailed Trainbearer
Black-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae)
Name Origin:
The genus name Lesbia comes from the Greek Lesbios, meaning “of Lesbos,” possibly referencing grace or beauty associated with the Greek island. The species name victoriae honors Queen Victoria of England, reflecting the 19th-century tradition of naming new species after royalty.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in), males with tail up to 12 cm (4.7 in) longer
⚖️ Weight: 4.5–5 g (0.16–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
🧭 Elevation: 1,500–3,500 m (4,920–11,480 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Montane scrub, forest edges, and high-elevation gardens
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini "Coquettes" and high-Andean hummingbirds
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
1. L. v. victoriae
Distribution: Eastern Andes of northern Colombia (Norte de Santander to Bogotá) and southern Colombia (Nariño), south through Ecuador to Azuay.
2. L. v. juliae
Distribution: Andes of southern Ecuador (southern Loja) to central Peru, from Huánuco to northern Lima.
3. L. v. berlepschi
Distribution: Andes of southeastern Peru, from Junín to Cuzco.
Species Overview
The Black-tailed Trainbearer is a striking highland hummingbird of the northern and central Andes, famous for its long, ribbon-like tail and metallic sheen. It is a common sight in montane scrub and open habitats near forest edges, where it perches conspicuously on exposed branches and wires, often raising its long tail in territorial display.
Male Description:
The male has brilliant emerald-green upperparts, a dark bronzy-black tail, and grayish underparts with a green wash on the flanks. His long, deeply forked tail can exceed the body length several times, curving gracefully during flight. The bill is straight and black. In sunlight, the back glows with a golden-green hue, and the tail shimmers with subtle violet tones.
Female Description:
The female is shorter-tailed and more modestly colored, with green upperparts, pale gray underparts finely streaked with green, and a short, slightly notched tail. Her bill is slightly longer and decurved. Females often forage low among flowering shrubs and are less aggressive than males.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in montane scrub, cloud forest edges, gardens, and páramo slopes, the Black-tailed Trainbearer is highly territorial, particularly during the dry season when flowering plants are scarce. It feeds on nectar from native species such as Salvia, Chuquiraga, and Barnadesia, as well as small insects caught in aerial sallies. The species is known for its graceful, gliding flight and habit of perching with its tail dramatically fanned.
Conservation Note:
The Black-tailed Trainbearer is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common in much of its range. Its tolerance for disturbed and semi-urban habitats allows it to thrive even near human settlements. Protection of Andean shrublands and montane forest corridors helps ensure healthy populations of this iconic, long-tailed hummingbird.
Below is the Black-tailed Trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae victoriae)
Photographed at the Observatorio de Colibríes, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
This individual belongs to the nominate subspecies victoriae, which occurs along the Eastern Andes of Colombia south through Ecuador. It inhabits high Andean shrublands, open forest edge, and gardens between 2,500 and 3,800 meters, where it is a frequent visitor to flowering shrubs and hedgerows.
