Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Blue-tailed Hummingbird

Saucerottia cyanura

The Blue-tailed Hummingbird, known scientifically as Saucerottia cyanura, is a diminutive avian jewel, measuring a mere 9 to 10 centimeters in length. Males of the species typically weigh around 3.9 grams, while females are slightly heavier at approximately 4.5 grams. Both sexes boast a black bill with a reddish base to the mandible, adding a touch of color to their otherwise dark visage.

Identification Tips

To identify the Blue-tailed Hummingbird, look for the male's deep metallic green crown and back, complemented by a dull purplish bronze rump and dark metallic bluish uppertail coverts. The primaries and secondaries are a rich chestnut, visible as a patch when the wings are closed, and the tail shimmers with a dark metallic violet blue. The underparts are a bright metallic green with dull steel blue undertail coverts. Females resemble the males but are somewhat duller, with less purplish rumps and underparts featuring narrow whitish margins. Their bellies are intermixed with dull buffy whitish, and their undertail coverts are grayish.

Habitat

This species thrives in semi-open landscapes, including the edges and clearings of both humid and dry oak and pine forests, secondary forests, scrublands, and even shade coffee plantations.

Distribution

The Blue-tailed Hummingbird is found across a range of Central American countries, from Costa Rica to Mexico. Its subspecies are distributed along the Pacific slope from southeastern Chiapas in Mexico to southern Guatemala, southern Honduras, eastern El Salvador, northwestern Nicaragua, and northwestern and central Costa Rica.

Behaviour

While the details of the Blue-tailed Hummingbird's movements remain undocumented, it is known to forage for nectar throughout the various strata of its habitat. It is particularly fond of Inga trees and, like its hummingbird kin, likely consumes insects as well.

Song & calls

The Blue-tailed Hummingbird's vocal repertoire includes a short twittering song, a hard, raspy "bzzzrt," sharp chips, and a high, piercing "siik!" call, typically emitted in flight.

Breeding

The breeding behaviors, including nest and egg descriptions, of the Blue-tailed Hummingbird remain a mystery to ornithologists.

Similar Species

There are no detailed descriptions of similar species provided, but as with many hummingbirds, it may be confused with other species in the same genus or those with similar coloration.

Diet and Feeding

While specific dietary details are scarce, the Blue-tailed Hummingbird is known to frequent Inga trees for nectar and is presumed to partake in insect consumption.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Blue-tailed Hummingbird as Least Concern, with a large range and an estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals. Despite a suspected population decline, no immediate threats have been identified, and human activity is thought to have little short-term effect on this species.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Blue-tailed Hummingbirds on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
🦉
Steven Gurka
23 Feb 2022 - 10:43pm
Guatemala

More Hummingbirds

A photo of a Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)

Speckled Hummingbird

Adelomyia melanogenys
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Stewart W
Fantastic to be involved
Fantastic to be involved, great for mental health and gets you responding with the Challenges that are to takd part in.
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.