The rufous-tailed hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found from east-central Mexico through Central America and Colombia into Ecuador and Venezuela.
Region
Mesoamerica and northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from east-central Mexico through all of Central America and into Colombia, Venezuela, and northwestern Ecuador. It favors forest edges, coffee and cacao plantations, second-growth, gardens, and parks, and is one of the most urban-tolerant hummingbirds in its range. It also uses riparian thickets and clearings with abundant flowering shrubs. Human-altered habitats with continuous nectar sources support high densities.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A common and adaptable hummingbird, it thrives in gardens, forest edges, and second-growth across Mesoamerica. It is notably aggressive at flowers and feeders, often displacing larger hummingbirds. The rufous tail with a dark subterminal band is a key field mark. As an important pollinator, it visits a wide variety of tubular flowers.
Temperament
aggressive and highly territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it tolerates loose aggregations around rich nectar sources but defends favored flowers vigorously. Nesting involves a tiny cup of plant down and spider silk placed on low to mid-story branches. Only the female incubates and rears the young; males do not provide parental care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are a dry, buzzy series of chips and chatters, often delivered during aggressive chases. Also gives thin, high-pitched tseet notes around feeding sites; the rapid wing hum is audible at close range.
Plumage
Iridescent green to bronze-green upperparts with a glittering green throat and breast; belly slightly duller green. Tail uniformly rufous to rufous-orange with a narrow dark subterminal band. Wings dusky with a slight purplish sheen; rump sometimes bronzy. Sexes similar; juveniles may show faint buffy fringes on the head and body feathers.
Diet
Primarily consumes nectar from a wide variety of tubular flowers such as Heliconia, Inga, and ornamental garden plants. It supplements its diet with small insects and spiders captured by hawking and gleaning, providing essential protein. It frequently defends rich nectar patches and will chase other hummingbirds and insects away.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, hedgerows, and flowering gardens where nectar is abundant. Readily visits hummingbird feeders in towns and agricultural landscapes.
