Black Jacobin

Overview

The black jacobin (Florisuga fusca) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae, native to parts of South America. It is currently classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Adults are 12 to 13 cm long and mostly black, featuring a bronzy-olive lower back and wing-coverts.
• Flanks are white, with black inner rectrices and outer rectrices that have white bases and black tips.
• Juveniles are dark with a cinnamon band on the throat, a white belly, and white outer rectrices.
• The song consists of high-pitched hissing notes above 10 kHz, sounding like 'szee..szee....szee..szee..szee....szee..'.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Brazil, eastern Uruguay, southeastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina, the species mostly inhabits woodlands, gardens, and coffee and cacao plantations with tall trees. Its elevation range extends from sea level up to 1,400 m.

Diet

This bird feeds on nectar from native and introduced trees, shrubs, and bromeliads, while also catching small insects on the wing and from spider webs. It is highly territorial and defends food sources, though large congregations have been observed feeding on patches of introduced shrubs.

Did you know?

While generally highly territorial and solitary, 'congregations' of 50 or more black jacobins have been documented feeding on the introduced shrub Dombeya wallichii.