The red-billed streamertail, also known as the doctor bird, scissor-tail or scissors tail hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is endemic to Jamaica and is the national bird of the country.
Region
Caribbean
Typical Environment
Occurs across most of Jamaica, being common in lowlands, foothills, and mid-elevation forests, with the black-billed streamertail replacing it in the far east. It inhabits humid and semi-humid evergreen forest, forest edges, second growth, plantations, and urban gardens. The species frequents flowering trees and shrubs, hedgerows, and coffee or citrus farms where nectar is plentiful. It readily visits feeders and persists well in mosaic landscapes with scattered tall trees and shrubs.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Endemic to Jamaica, the red-billed streamertail is the country’s national bird and is widely known as the “doctor bird.” Males have spectacular elongated tail streamers that create a distinctive whirring sound in flight. Highly territorial around rich nectar sources, it is also an important pollinator of many native flowers. It adapts readily to gardens and plantations where flowering plants are abundant.
Temperament
territorial and assertive around nectar sources
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Usually solitary while feeding, but multiple birds may gather at rich flowering trees or feeders where dominance displays are frequent. Courtship involves hovering displays and chases; males advertise with mechanical sounds from wings and tail streamers. Nests are tiny cups of plant down bound with spider silk, placed on small branches; clutches typically contain two eggs, and the female alone incubates and cares for the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include high, sharp chips and thin twittering notes. In flight, males produce a distinctive whirring or buzzing caused by their wings and elongated tail streamers, which carries well in forest edges and gardens.
Plumage
Male with shimmering emerald-green body and glossy black head, plus extremely long, thin black tail streamers; female lacks streamers and shows green upperparts with whitish underparts.
Diet
Primarily consumes nectar from a wide variety of native and cultivated flowers, including hibiscus, Heliconia, and citrus blossoms. Supplements nectar with small insects and spiders captured by hawking or gleaning, providing essential proteins. Acts as a key pollinator, often dusted with pollen as it probes tubular flowers. Readily visits artificial feeders offering sugar water.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, gardens, and clearings where flowering shrubs and trees are dense. Often forages along hedgerows, coffee plantations, and secondary growth with abundant blossoms.
