Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Green-tailed Goldenthroat (Polytmus theresiae)
Name Origin:
The genus Polytmus likely stems from Greek polytimos, meaning “very precious” or “highly valued,” although its origin is debated. The species epithet theresiae honors a woman named Theresia, possibly an early European patron or figure tied to South American natural history, though the exact dedication remains unclear.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 8.9–9.9 cm (3.5–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: 3.0–3.5 g (0.11–0.12 oz)
🌎 Range: Eastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, the Guianas, northern Brazil, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia
🧭 Elevation: 0–400 m (0–1,300 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Sandy savannas, forest edges, and shrublands near white-sand soils
🧬 Clade: Polytminae “Mangoes and Goldenthroats”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Two subspecies:
Polytmus theresiae theresiae
Distribution: The Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana) and northeastern Brazil (Amazonas, Pará, and Amapá), occupying open savannas and lowland forest edges with sandy soils.Polytmus theresiae leucorrhous
Distribution: Eastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, the upper Negro River basin of Brazil, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia, generally favoring shrubby white-sand forest mosaics.
Species Overview
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is a small, agile hummingbird of tropical white-sand savannas and sandy forest margins. Its slightly decurved bill and short wings are suited for foraging close to the ground in sparse vegetation. Plumage is mostly green-bronze with a green tail, from which it gets its common name. Males and females are similar but differ in underpart markings and tail patterning.
Male Description:
The male has glossy bronze-green upperparts, a glittering green crown, and a dark green tail with narrow white bases on the outer feathers. Underparts are uniform greenish-gray. The bill is black, long, and slightly decurved.
Female Description:
The female resembles the male but has pale gray underparts with dense green spotting on the throat and flanks. The tail shows prominent white tips on the outer feathers. Juveniles appear similar to adult females but duller overall.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in open sandy savannas, white-sand forest edges, and shrubby clearings. Forages by trap-lining low flowering plants, especially from Melastomataceae and other savanna-adapted families. Also takes small insects by hawking or gleaning from vegetation. Males may show limited territoriality near high-quality nectar sources. Breeding varies regionally, with nesting reported during the dry season in most parts of its range. The nest is a small cup of plant down and spider silk, placed in a low shrub fork.
Conservation Note:
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread across its range. It favors specialized white-sand habitats, which are relatively scarce and sensitive to disturbance, especially from fire, mining, and agriculture. Though often locally common, population stability depends on the preservation of these unique ecosystems. Key strongholds include the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park (Brazil), Kaieteur National Park (Guyana), and protected reserves in French Guiana and southern Venezuela. Sustained protection of white-sand savanna mosaics is vital for its long-term conservation.
Below is the Green-tailed Goldenthroat (Polytmus theresiae theresiae)
Photographed at Manaus, Bonfim (Roraima), Iranduba, and Presidente Figueiredo, all within the states of Amazonas and Roraima, Brazil.
These individuals belong to the subspecies theresiae, which occurs throughout northeastern Amazonia, including the Guianas and northern Brazil, particularly along the lower Negro and Madeira River basins. It inhabits sandy-soil savannas and forest edges at low elevations, typically below 400 meters.
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