Green Thorntail

The Green Thorntail, Discosura conversii, is a diminutive and striking hummingbird belonging to the tribe Lesbiini of the subfamily Lesbiinae. This avian jewel is adorned with shimmering green plumage, with males brandishing a deeply forked, bluish-black tail that lends the species its name.

Identification Tips

Male Green Thorntails measure approximately 9.5 to 10.2 cm in length, while females are slightly smaller at about 6.6 to 7.5 cm. The males exhibit a dark green crown, a metallic green back, and a unique white band across a coppery bronze rump. Their throats are a bright metallic green, transitioning to a greenish-blue at the center of the breast. Females, on the other hand, have similar upperparts but with a darker rump and a notched tail. Their facial features include a broad white cheek patch, and their underparts are a mix of dull black with white spots and dull green flanks.

Habitat

The Green Thorntail is a canopy dweller, favoring the upper reaches of humid montane and lowland evergreen forests. It also frequents flowering trees in forest clearings.

Distribution

This species graces the skies of the Caribbean slope in Costa Rica, the Pacific slopes of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador, and is suspected to inhabit eastern Panama's Caribbean side.

Behaviour

The Green Thorntail is generally sedentary, though it exhibits altitudinal movements during the wet season, descending to lower elevations.

Song & Calls

While typically silent, the Green Thorntail may emit soft, squeaky chips during interactions with others of its kind.

Breeding

Males perform courtship displays from high perches, including dive displays. The breeding season varies across their range, with a general span from November to April in Costa Rica. Details on their nesting and incubation practices remain elusive.

Diet and Feeding

Nectar forms the cornerstone of their diet, with a preference for legumes. They feed by hovering, often with their tails cocked at a sharp angle. They also consume small arthropods, which they catch in flight or glean from foliage.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Green Thorntail as Least Concern. Despite a population trend that is believed to be decreasing, the species does not currently face immediate threats. However, it remains vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation.