Viridian Metaltail
Viridian Metaltail (Metallura williami)
Name Origin:
The genus Metallura combines Greek metallon (metal) and oura (tail), referencing the metallic tail characteristic of the genus. The species epithet williami honors William Jameson, a 19th-century Scottish-Ecuadorian botanist.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 9.5–11 cm (3.7–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.2–5.5 g (0.15–0.19 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes of Colombia and Ecuador
🧭 Elevation: 2,800–4,000 m (9,200–13,100 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Montane elfin forest, páramo margins, and high Andean scrub
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini “Coquettes and Metaltails”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Four subspecies:
Metallura williami recisa
Distribution: Western Andes of Colombia (Antioquia to Cauca), inhabiting upper montane forest and páramo edges.Metallura williami williami
Distribution: Central Andes of Colombia (from Caldas and Tolima south into Huila), mostly on humid slopes near treeline.Metallura williami primolina
Distribution: Eastern Andes of Colombia south into N Ecuador (Napo, Pichincha), occurring in elfin forest and shrubby edges.Metallura williami atrigularis
Distribution: Southeastern Ecuador (Loja, Zamora-Chinchipe), often along drier páramo margins.
Species Overview
The Viridian Metaltail is a striking Andean hummingbird that thrives in high-elevation habitats near the treeline. Males are deep green with a glittering emerald gorget and dark bluish tails. Females are duller with subtle spotting on the throat. It forages low in dense shrubbery and flowering plants typical of elfin forest and páramo edge.
Male Description:
Velvety green body with a brilliant green gorget, slightly decurved black bill, and dark metallic bluish tail. Face and crown are also green with a bronzy hue.
Female Description:
Similar to male but duller, with light speckling on the throat and less vivid iridescence. Underparts may appear grayer with a buffy tinge.
Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers misty, high-altitude habitats such as elfin forest edges, montane scrub, and páramo fringe. Forages alone or in loose territories, visiting small tubular flowers and catching insects midair.
Conservation Note:
Classified as Least Concern, though its range is fragmented and habitat loss from agriculture and climate change may pose future risks. It remains locally common in protected highland reserves.
Below is the Viridian Metaltail (Metallura williami williami)
Photographed at Hotel Termales del Ruíz, Caldas, Colombia
These individuals belong to the subspecies williami, which occurs along the Central Andes of Colombia, including Caldas, Tolima, and Huila. It inhabits humid upper montane forest and páramo margins at elevations of 3,000–4,000 meters, often near treeline in misty, windswept slopes.
