Stripe-tailed Hummingbird
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa eximia)
Name Origin:
The genus Eupherusa has unclear etymology but may blend Greek eu meaning “good” or “well” with an unknown root. The species epithet eximia is Latin for “extraordinary” or “exceptional,” referencing its striking appearance.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: 3.5–4.0 g (0.12–0.14 oz)
🌎 Range: Highlands from southern Mexico to western Panama
🧭 Elevation: 900–2,300 m (2,950–7,550 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest, forest edges, and flowering second growth
🧬 Clade: Trochilini (“Emeralds”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Three subspecies:
Eupherusa eximia nelsoni
Distribution: Eastern Mexico (southwestern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca)Eupherusa eximia eximia
Distribution: Extreme eastern Mexico (Chiapas) south through the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and central NicaraguaEupherusa eximia egregia
Distribution: Highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama
Species Overview
The Stripe-tailed Hummingbird is a vibrant mid-elevation species easily recognized by its namesake tail pattern. Males show a rich emerald-green body with cinnamon wings and a boldly patterned black-and-white tail. Females are paler below and have less distinct tail markings. Both sexes are active feeders, often seen darting between canopy flowers.
Male Description:
Emerald-green upperparts, chestnut wings, black tail with prominent white outer edges. Straight black bill and shining green throat.
Female Description:
Pale grayish below, green upperparts, and black-and-white tail similar to the male. Bill slightly shorter and often slightly decurved.
Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits mid- to high-elevation humid montane forests and adjacent second growth. Forages on a wide variety of epiphytes and flowering shrubs, usually at canopy level. Not aggressively territorial but often returns to the same feeding sites.
Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern, the Stripe-tailed Hummingbird remains locally common throughout its range. It is tolerant of degraded forest and secondary growth but may be affected by future deforestation at mid-elevations. Protected in several national parks across its range.
Below is the Stripe-tailed Hummingbird (Eupherusa eximia egregia)
Photographed at Bosque del Tolomuco, Batsú Gardens, and Cabinas El Quetzal, all in San José, Costa Rica
These individuals belong to the subspecies egregia, which occurs in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. Birds in this group tend to be slightly larger and brighter than northern subspecies, with more contrasting tail pattern and richer green plumage. They favor elevations between 1,200 and 2,300 meters in montane forests, forest edges, and flowering gardens.
