Long-tailed Sylph

Overview

The long-tailed sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) is a species of hummingbird found in South America, specifically within the 'coquettes' tribe. It inhabits open landscapes and forest edges across several Andean countries and is currently assessed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Males of the nominate subspecies display a shining emerald green crown, metallic bronzy green upperparts, and a blue or violet throat.
• Females feature a metallic green head with a white malar stripe, a white to buffy throat with green speckles, and cinnamon underparts.
• The species has a short black bill and exhibits striking sexual dimorphism in tail length, with males possessing very long outer tail feathers.
• Vocalisations include a continuous series of buzzy notes, short raspy 'dzzrt' calls, and a thin high-pitched rising twittering.

Habitat

The species inhabits generally open landscapes such as scrublands, forest clearings, gardens, secondary forest, and high-elevation grassland. Its distribution spans Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, with populations found at elevations between 900 and 3,000 m.

Diet

The long-tailed sylph feeds on nectar and insects, employing strategies such as trap-lining around flowering plants, defending territories, hovering, and robbing nectar by piercing flower bases. It catches insects by hawking from a perch, foraging mostly in treetops at lower elevations but closer to the ground in elfin forests and high-elevation grassland.

Did you know?

Despite its common name, the bird's tail is not noticeably longer than those of the other sylphs.