Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Common name: Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Scientific name: Polytmus theresiae
Clades: Polytminae - Mangoes
A delicate and slender hummingbird of northern South America, the Green-tailed Goldenthroat is typically found in open and semi-open habitats such as savannas, forest edges, and riverbanks across Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil. Measuring 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) in length and weighing approximately 3.5 to 4 grams (0.12 to 0.14 oz), this species is known for its subtle elegance and graceful presence.
Male Description:
The male sports shimmering metallic green upperparts and a glittering golden-green tail, which gives the species its name. His throat is iridescent green, while the underparts are pale grayish to whitish, providing soft contrast. His bill is straight and black, perfect for precision nectar feeding from a variety of flowers in sunlit and semi-open areas.
Female Description:
Females are similar but have paler throats that may show slight spotting, and their underparts are generally lighter overall. The tail retains the greenish hues but often shows more subdued coloration with whitish tips on the outer feathers. The female’s bill is also straight and slightly shorter than the male’s.
Habitat & Behavior:
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat thrives in open woodlands, savannas, and river edges where flowering plants are abundant. It often perches conspicuously and feeds actively on nectar, while also capturing small insects. Though not globally threatened, its reliance on specific semi-open habitats makes it sensitive to changes in land use and habitat degradation.
2 subspecies:
P. t. theresiae
Distribution the Guianas and NC Brazil (from lower R Negro and R Madeira E to Pará and Amapá).P. t. sedentarius
Distribution E Colombia and S Venezuela (SW Bolívar, W Amazonas) to NW Brazil (upper R Negro), E Peru and N Bolivia.
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