Peruvian Racket-tail

Peru

Jul 17

Peruvian Racket-tail (Ocreatus addae)

Name Origin:
The genus Ocreatus comes from Latin ocrea, meaning “greave” or leg armor, referring to the leg puffs found in this group. The species epithet addae honors Ada, likely a reference to a woman commemorated by 19th-century naturalists, though the exact individual is uncertain.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 10–13 cm (3.9–5.1 in), including rackets
⚖️ Weight: ~2.5–3 g (0.09–0.11 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru
🧭 Elevation: 1,500–2,800 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest, forest edge, and secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Heliantheini (a.k.a. “brilliants”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Peruvian Racket-tail is a small, flashy hummingbird found only along the eastern Andean slope of Peru. Males are instantly recognizable by their long, racquet-tipped outer tail feathers and large white leg puffs. This species is active, vocal, and highly maneuverable in flight. It prefers mid-elevation montane forest, often seen at forest edges or near flowering trees.

Male Description:
Emerald green body with white leg tufts, elongated tail with bare shafts ending in spatulate “rackets.” The tail often swings rhythmically in flight displays or while hovering.

Female Description:
Short-tailed and lacks the rackets. Green upperparts, whitish underparts with green spots on the sides, and faint white post-ocular stripe. Also has small but noticeable white leg tufts.

Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits humid montane forest and second growth, especially areas with flowering epiphytes, shrubs, and canopy trees. Forages on nectar and small arthropods, often hovering or darting through foliage. Males perform aerial displays using their tail rackets. Generally solitary, not strongly territorial.

Conservation Note:
Although locally common in some areas, the Peruvian Racket-tail has a relatively narrow range and depends on intact forest habitats. Habitat degradation from agriculture and deforestation may impact local populations, but it remains assessed as Least Concern due to stable numbers and occurrence in protected zones.