Tyrian Metaltail

Overview

The Tyrian metaltail is a species of hummingbird belonging to the subfamily Lesbiinae, which includes the brilliants and coquettes. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and is considered a stable, common species throughout its large range.

Identification

• Size: 9 to 10 cm in length, weighing between 2.7 and 5.1 g.
• Plumage: Males of the nominate subspecies display bottle green upperparts and gray underparts, while females have ochre-orange throats and upper breasts with olive green spots.
• Bill: Short, straight, and black in both sexes.
• Song: A rare and weak series of high-pitched, lispy notes, often described as 'seek..sik..see..si..see..sip..see.......see..seek..see..see...'.
• Calls: Alternating stuttering trills and repeated phrases of squeaky notes such as 'trr..trr..trr..tsi-see-sew-sew...tsi-see-sew-sew...'.

Habitat

Found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, the Tyrian metaltail inhabits humid open landscapes including secondary forest, cloudforest, mossy treeline scrub, and elfin forest, as well as the edges or brushy parts of páramo. It typically ranges in elevation from 1,500 to 4,200 m, though it is most common between 2,500 and 3,300 m.

Diet

Foraging in the canopy of bushes and medium-sized trees, the bird takes nectar from a variety of flowering plants by hovering or clinging, occasionally piercing the flower base to 'rob' nectar. It also feeds on small insects on the wing.

Did you know?

Despite its name, the tail colour varies significantly among its seven subspecies, ranging from glistening bronze and violet to coppery red and purple-blue. The species is noted for making significant elevational movements between seasons, occasionally occurring casually as low as 600 m in Venezuela.