Little Woodstar

Little Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus)

Name Origin:
The genus Chaetocercus is derived from Greek, meaning “bristle tail,” a reference to the long, narrow tail feathers of woodstars. The species name bombus means “bumblebee,” referring to its small size and rapid, bee-like flight.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in)
⚖️ Weight: 3–4 g
🌎 Range: Western Ecuador, southwestern Colombia, and northern Peru
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 2,300 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Forest edge, semi-humid slopes, shrubby second growth
🧬 Clade: Trochilinae “Woodstars and Emeralds”
📊 Status: Near Threatened (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Little Woodstar is one of the tiniest hummingbirds in the Andes and lowlands of northwestern South America. It often goes unnoticed due to its size and fast, silent movements. Males have a forked tail and a glittering rosy throat, while females are cinnamon-buff below with a rounded rufous tail. This species feeds on nectar from small tubular flowers and captures insects in flight. Its movement style resembles a bee more than a typical hummingbird.

Male Description:
Bronzy-green upperparts with a glittering rose-pink throat patch, buffy cheeks and underparts, and deeply forked tail with elongated outer feathers.

Female Description:
Green upperparts, cinnamon-buff underparts, pale eyebrow stripe, and a rounded rufous tail with a narrow black subterminal band.

Habitat & Behavior:
Found along forest edges, shrubby slopes, and semi-humid transition zones. It prefers low to mid-elevation habitats and forages at low heights, often hovering at small flowers or snapping insects from foliage. Movement is rapid and erratic. Unlike larger hummingbirds, it rarely engages in territorial defense.

Conservation Note:
The Little Woodstar has a patchy distribution and is sensitive to habitat degradation. Deforestation and agricultural expansion threaten its limited range, particularly in Ecuador and northern Peru. Protection of remnant forest edges and transitional habitats is key to its future stability.