Slender Sheartail

Slender Sheartail (Doricha enicura)

Name Origin:
The genus Doricha likely refers to a courtesan named Doricha from ancient Greece, as used poetically in early taxonomy. The species name enicura is derived from Greek enis meaning “sword” and oura meaning “tail,” referencing the species’ long, slender, deeply forked tail.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 8.5–10 cm (3.3–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~2.4–2.8 g (0.08–0.10 oz)
🌎 Range: Southern Mexico to western Honduras
🧭 Elevation: 800–2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Pine-oak forest, forest edges, clearings with flowering shrubs
🧬 Clade: Mellisugini (“Bees”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic — no subspecies recognized.

Species Overview

The Slender Sheartail is a small, striking hummingbird of Mesoamerica known for its long, deeply forked tail and rapid, erratic flight. It is typically found in highland pine-oak woodlands and clearings where flowering shrubs are abundant. Males are eye-catching with vivid violet throats and elongated outer tail feathers, while females are more subdued in color but still elegant in shape.

Male Description:
Glittering violet gorget, bronzy-green upperparts, grayish underparts, and a long, deeply forked tail with narrow black outer feathers.

Female Description:
Pale gray below with green flanks, white-tipped tail, and less pronounced fork. Lacks the violet throat patch.

Habitat & Behavior:
Often seen in forest edges, gardens, and second-growth near pine-oak forest, where it forages low to mid-level on tubular flowers. Agile and quick in flight, frequently hovers while feeding or perches briefly on exposed twigs. Captures small insects in midair and is sometimes seen attending flowering trees alongside other hummingbirds.

Conservation Note:
The Slender Sheartail is listed as Least Concern, though its dependence on mid-elevation forest and edge habitats makes it susceptible to habitat fragmentation. It appears to tolerate moderate disturbance and occurs in both protected and semi-disturbed areas. Continued forest loss in parts of its range may affect local populations, but overall, the species remains stable.