White-booted racket-tail
White-booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii)
Name Origin: The genus name Ocreatus derives from Latin ocreatus, meaning "wearing leggings," a nod to the puffy white leg feathers. The species epithet underwoodii honors Charles E. Underwood, a 19th-century English naturalist and collector.
Quick Facts
🤦 Length: 10–13 cm (4–5.1 in), including racket-shaped tail streamers
⚖️ Weight: ~2.5–4 g (0.09–0.14 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes of northern South America
🛝️ Elevation: 1,200–3,200 m (3,940–10,500 ft)
🌺 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Cloud forest edges, secondary forest, and gardens
🧬 Clade: Heliantheini “Brilliants”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Five subspecies:
Ocreatus underwoodii polystictus
Distribution: Coastal mountains of northern Venezuela (Carabobo to Miranda).Ocreatus underwoodii discifer
Distribution: Northwestern Venezuela (Zulia and Falcón to Táchira and W Barinas) and northern Colombia (Norte de Santander).Ocreatus underwoodii underwoodii
Distribution: Eastern Andes of Colombia.Ocreatus underwoodii incommodus
Distribution: Western and Central Andes of Colombia.Ocreatus underwoodii melanantherus
Distribution: Western slope from southwestern Colombia (Nariño) to southwestern Ecuador.
Species Overview
The White-booted Racket-tail is one of the most visually distinctive hummingbirds in the Andes, recognized by the males’ spectacular racket-shaped tail feathers and fluffy white leg tufts. This species inhabits the humid montane forests and adjacent disturbed habitats where it is a frequent visitor to flowering shrubs.
Male Description
Males are striking with vibrant green upperparts, white "boots" on the legs, and elongated outer tail feathers ending in flat, disc-like tips. The racket-shaped tail is constantly in motion during feeding or display flights. The throat and chest are glittering green, while the belly is whitish.
Female Description
Females lack the racket-shaped tail but share the white leg tufts. They have a more compact appearance with green upperparts, whitish underparts, and green spotting on the flanks and throat. Their tail is short and white-tipped.
Habitat & Behavior
White-booted Racket-tails inhabit a range of Andean habitats including cloud forests, second growth, and gardens at mid-elevations. Males often display by hovering and fanning their tail streamers. They are territorial and frequently aggressive at feeding sites. Their insect-like trill and rapid wingbeats make them easy to overlook unless visually spotted.
Conservation Note
The species remains common and widespread throughout its elevational range and is not currently facing significant threats. However, forest fragmentation and climate shifts may influence local populations in the future.
Below are individuals of the White-booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii incommodus)
Photographed at:
La Florida - Bosque de Las Aves, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Finca Alejandría "El Paraíso de Los Colibríes", Valle del Cauca, Colombia
These individuals belong to the subspecies incommodus, which occurs on the western and central Andes of Colombia. It is typically found along humid montane forest edges, often between 1,500–2,700 meters. Males are distinguished by their long, racket-shaped tail streamers and green upperparts with a white leg puff, while females have shorter tails and whitish underparts spotted with green.
Below are individuals of the White-booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii underwoodii)
Photographed at:
Finca La Esperanza, Cundinamarca, Colombia
These individuals belong to the subspecies underwoodii, found on the eastern Andes of Colombia. This form is typically found at slightly higher elevations in montane cloud forest and shrubby clearings. Males display the characteristic racket tail and bright iridescent green plumage, but may have subtle structural or plumage differences compared to incommodus, often discernible only with close range observation or vocal differences.
Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.