Blue-tufted Starthroat
Blue-tufted Starthroat (Heliomaster furcifer)
Name Origin:
The genus name Heliomaster comes from the Greek helios meaning “sun” and master meaning “one who controls,” referring to its ability to reflect dazzling colors in sunlight. The species name furcifer is from Latin, combining furca (“fork”) and -fer (“bearing”), referencing the male’s distinctive forked tail.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–11.5 cm (3.9–4.5 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5–6 g (0.18–0.21 oz)
🌎 Range: Central and eastern South America — Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Dry woodland, cerrado, savanna, gallery forest, and gardens
🧬 Clade: Polytmini "Starthroats" (open-habitat hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.
Distribution: Found throughout central, eastern, and southeastern Brazil, extending into eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina (provinces of Misiones and Formosa). Occupies a wide range of open habitats, from cerrado scrub and dry forest to wooded savanna and semi-urban gardens.
Species Overview
The Blue-tufted Starthroat is one of South America’s most dazzling open-habitat hummingbirds, easily identified by its violet-blue gorget, elongated head tufts, and forked tail. It is widespread across central South America and is especially common in the Brazilian cerrado, where it often visits flowering trees and shrubs.
Male Description:
The male has glittering emerald-green upperparts, a deep violet-blue throat (gorget) that expands into small lateral tufts, and grayish underparts with greenish gloss. The crown shows faint bronze reflections, and the tail is dark blue and distinctly forked. In display, the male flares the blue tufts dramatically while hovering and emitting short, buzzing trills.
Female Description:
The female lacks the bright blue throat patch, instead showing green upperparts, pale gray underparts, and a less forked bluish tail with narrow white tips. Her plumage is more subdued, though she still exhibits subtle iridescence under direct light.
Habitat & Behavior:
Preferring dry woodland, savanna, and forest edge, the Blue-tufted Starthroat feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including Erythrina, Inga, Tabebuia, and Bauhinia. It supplements its diet with small insects captured in midair. The species is highly active and territorial, often seen perching conspicuously on exposed branches or power lines while surveying its feeding area.
Conservation Note:
The Blue-tufted Starthroat is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains stable across its broad range. Its tolerance for semi-open and human-modified environments, including agricultural and suburban areas, ensures its continued success. Nonetheless, habitat loss in the cerrado biome could reduce local populations if large-scale conversion continues. Conservation of flower-rich dry forests and native savannas supports long-term stability for this striking Polytmini species.
