Olive-spotted Hummingbird
Scientific name: Talaphorus chlorocercus
The Olive-spotted Hummingbird is a small emerald hummingbird of young river islands and adjacent shores along the upper Amazon and its major tributaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The total number of mature individuals is unknown, the global population trend appears stable, it is considered non‑migratory, and it is currently assessed as Least Concern.
At a Glance
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
Clade: Trochilini – Emeralds
Genus: Talaphorus — monotypic (1 species)
Range: Upper Amazon River and major tributaries in northwestern Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru
Habitat: Young river islands and nearby riverbanks with shrubby open woodland and early successional vegetation
Elevation: Up to about 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level
Length: About 12 cm (4.7 in)
Weight: About 6 g (0.21 oz)
Number of mature individuals: Unknown
Population trend: Stable (no evidence of rapid decline)
Movement: Not a Migrant (generally sedentary with only local dispersal)
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern
Name Origin
The genus name Talaphorus was resurrected after molecular studies showed that the former genus Leucippus was polyphyletic; Talaphorus now holds this single species. The species name chlorocercus combines Greek roots meaning “green tail,” referring to the bird’s pale olive‑green tail feathers. The English name “Olive-spotted Hummingbird” highlights the olive‑green throat and the subtle spangling or “spotted” look created by its golden‑green feathering.
Taxonomy
Talaphorus chlorocercus belongs to the emerald group (tribe Trochilini) within subfamily Trochilinae. It is the only member of the genus Talaphorus and has no recognized subspecies. This species occurs along the upper Amazon River and its major tributaries in northwestern Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. It is strongly tied to river systems and is considered a river‑island specialist, using habitats that are naturally dynamic and constantly reshaped by flooding and sediment deposition.
Subspecies and Distribution
Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.
Distribution: The Olive-spotted Hummingbird is found along the upper Amazon and its main tributaries, including portions of northwestern Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. Within this region it is associated primarily with young, early successional river islands and, to a lesser extent, adjacent mainland riverbanks. It occupies shrubby open woodland and low, regenerating vegetation on recently formed or disturbed riverine substrates, generally below 400 m in elevation.
Legend
Green Resident
Species Overview
The Olive-spotted Hummingbird is a subtle but distinctive Amazonian specialist, rarely far from major white‑water rivers. Adults have a bronze crown and neck, grayish‑ to bronze‑green upperparts, and an olive‑green throat that can appear speckled with golden‑green, over whitish underparts. Its dependence on young river islands and early regrowth vegetation gives it a unique ecological niche among hummingbirds. Within suitable stretches of river it can be rare in some sites and fairly common in others, but overall there is no evidence of strong decline, and the global population is considered stable.
Male Description
Adults are about 12 cm long and weigh around 6 g; the sexes are essentially similar in plumage. The crown and neck are shiny bronze, and the rest of the upperparts are grayish‑green to bronze‑green. The throat is olive‑green with a golden‑green sheen that can create a fine, “spotted” or scaled effect, while the chest and belly are whitish. The tail is pale grayish‑green to olive‑green, with grayish tips on the inner feathers and grayish outer webs on the outer feathers; the outer tail feathers also show a dark subterminal bar near the tip. The bill is straight, blackish, and of moderate length. In life, the overall impression is of a small, bronze‑topped emerald with an olive‑washed throat and pale underparts.
Female Description
Females are very similar to males, with the same bronze crown, grayish‑ to bronze‑green upperparts, olive‑green throat, and whitish underparts, and the same pale olive‑green tail with dark subterminal bars on the outer feathers. The bill is slightly longer in females than in males but otherwise similar. Juveniles resemble adults but have more grayish‑brown underparts, with less contrast between throat and belly and somewhat duller overall coloration.
Habitat & Behavior
Olive-spotted Hummingbirds inhabit young river islands and adjacent mainland riverbanks along the upper Amazon and its tributaries. They favor shrubby open woodland, early successional vegetation, and patches of low trees and shrubs that colonize newly formed or recently disturbed islands and shorelines. These habitats are dynamic, created and reshaped by seasonal flooding and sediment deposition, and often support a unique plant community distinct from older floodplain forest.
They feed mainly on nectar, visiting flowers of numerous plant families; at least ten plant families have been recorded as nectar sources. Birds typically forage at low to mid heights in shrubs and small trees, hovering at blossoms or briefly perching to feed. In addition to nectar, they glean small insects from foliage, picking them from leaves and stems to supplement their diet. Individuals are usually seen singly or in small numbers, moving through shrubby patches along the river but remaining within the island and riverbank zone.
Breeding
The breeding season is not well defined and may vary locally with river levels and vegetation growth, but nesting has been documented. The female builds a small cup nest of soft plant material and fibers bound together with spiderweb, decorating the outside with lichen to match the surrounding twigs. The nest is placed on branches or stems in shrubby river‑island vegetation or adjacent riverbank shrubs, typically low to moderately high above the ground or water.
The clutch consists of two white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about 14–15 days. After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for roughly 20 days before fledging. During this period the female provides all care, feeding the chicks with regurgitated nectar and small insects.
Movement
The Olive-spotted Hummingbird is generally sedentary and is classified as not a migrant. It does not undertake long‑distance seasonal migrations, though local dispersal occurs as birds track flowering plants and respond to the changing structure of river‑island habitats. Because islands can be ephemeral or change rapidly, individuals may move among nearby islands and between islands and adjacent mainland banks, but these shifts are short‑range within the same upper Amazon river system.
Population
The global population size is unknown. Along the upper Amazon and its tributaries, this species is described as rare in some reaches and fairly common in others, reflecting the patchy distribution of suitable young river‑island habitats. Despite this patchiness, there is no current evidence of strong declines, and no major widespread threats have been identified. The species’ habitat—young islands and early successional riverine vegetation—is naturally dynamic but remains widespread across large stretches of the upper Amazon.
Conservation
The Olive-spotted Hummingbird is assessed as Least Concern. Its population size and trend are unknown, but the species occupies a broad stretch of the upper Amazon river system and appears to be stable overall. No immediate large‑scale threats have been identified, though localized impacts such as river regulation, intensive riverbank development, or large‑scale changes to flooding patterns could affect its specialized habitats. Maintaining natural river dynamics and preserving stretches of river with intact young‑island and early successional vegetation are important for this species and other river‑island specialists.
Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.
No other species are currently recognized in the genus Talaphorus; the Olive-spotted Hummingbird is the only member of this genus.
Please note: The content provided in this article reflects Anthony’s personal experience and photographic approach. Results can vary depending on light, weather, location, equipment, subject behavior, and field conditions.