Blue-tailed hummingbird


The blue-tailed hummingbird, sometimes placed in the genus Saucerottia, is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.

Subspecies

Subspecies within this species include:

Distribution

This species can be found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and heavily degraded former forest. These hummingbirds can be found in humid and dry oak or pine forests, in open woodlands and in coffee plantations, at altitudes of 3,300 feet or lower.

Biology

Amazilia cyanura feed on nectar of many flowers, but especially of Inga flowers. It is also an agile flycatcher.

Description

Amazilia cyanura can reach a length of. These hummingbirds show a metallic deep green plumage, a characteristic deep blue tail and in proper lighting chestnut or rufous wings. Rump and uppertail coverts are purplish. The bill is black. Females are duller than males and have a grayish belly, and less rufous wings. This species is very similar to Steely-vented Hummingbirds and to Berylline Hummingbird.