White-tailed Goldenthroat

Overview

The white-tailed goldenthroat (Polytmus guainumbi) is a species of hummingbird belonging to the subfamily Polytminae, commonly known as the mangoes. It is distributed across a broad range of South and Central American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Identification

• Length ranges from 9.7 to 11.8 cm (3.8 to 4.6 in) with a weight of 4.4 to 5 g (0.16 to 0.18 oz).
• Features a long, decurved reddish and black bill.
• Males of the nominate subspecies display shiny golden to bronzy green upperparts and iridescent golden-green underparts, with a long, rounded tail that has green feathers tipped with white and broad white edges on the outer pairs.
• Females have buffy face streaks, a whitish chin, and buff underparts marked with green spots on the throat and breast.
• Vocalizations include a fast-paced series of loud, excited 'spit' notes when foraging and a dry 'tsip-tsip' in flight.

Habitat

The species inhabits a variety of landscapes including wet grassland, shrubby savanna, cerrado, and freshwater swamps, often staying near water in dryer areas. Its range extends from Trinidad and Venezuela through the Guianas to northern Brazil, with other subspecies found in eastern Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. It occupies elevations ranging from sea level to 600 m (2,000 ft).

Diet

Feeds on nectar from flowering garden plants, shrubs, and trees, typically foraging singly and low to the ground. It also catches insects on the wing and gleans insects and spiders from vegetation.

Did you know?

The female alone builds a small cup nest of plant down decorated with lichen, incubates the two-egg clutch, and cares for the young.