Band-tailed Barbthroat
Threnetes ruckeri
Scarce hummingbird of humid evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands. Favors shady understory, especially with Heliconia flowers. Usually visits flowers briefly and whips away with a sharp buzzy squeak. Note long arched bill (yellowish below), striped face, blackish throat patch, and rusty breast patch. Striking tail pattern, black with white tips, and a white base that is only readily seen when the tail is spread.
Identification
The band-tailed barbthroat is 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) long. Males weigh 5.5 to 7 g (0.19 to 0.25 oz) and females 5 to 7 g (0.18 to 0.25 oz).The adult male of the nominate subspecies has bronze-green upperparts, a dark ear patch and chin, and a dusky malar stripe. The tail is dark with white bases and tips to the feathers that create a black band near the end. The throat is ochraceous and the underparts are otherwise gray with some green feathers. It has a nearly straight bill. As with other hermit hummingbirds, the sexes are similar; the female's bill is somewhat more decurved than the male's and the plumage has less contrast among the throat, breast, and belly. Young birds resemble the adult but have ochraceous feather edges. T. r. venezuelensis has a somewhat larger ochraceous throat patch than the nominate. T. r. ventosus has a much larger and bright orange throat patch and an ochraceous tinge to the belly.
Taxonomy
The band-tailed barbthroat has the three subspecies listed. A fourth proposed subspecies, T. r. darienensis of the Panama-Colombia border area, shares the characteristics of all three recognized subspecies. The band-tailed barbthroat and the other two members of its genus pale-tailed barbthroat (T. lecurus) and sooty barbthroat (T. niger) form a superspecies.
- Scientific name
- Threnetes ruckeri
- Authority
- (Bourcier, 1847)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Threnetes
Range and habitat
T. r. ventosus is the northernmost subspecies of band-tailed barbthroat. It is found from eastern Guatemala and Belize through Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica into Panama. The nominate T. r. ruckeri is found from northern and western Colombia south through western Ecuador almost to Peru. T. r. venezuelensis is found in northwestern Venezuela. The species inhabits the understory and edges of primary forest and old second growth, and also semi-open shrublands, thickets, and plantations. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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A nighthawk of forests and clearings in the subtropical zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Rather chunky and short-tailed, with intricately patterned upperparts (usually including big white patches in the scapulars) and a tawny-rufous belly. In flight, looks big-headed with rather broad, angular wings and a fairly short, squared-off tail. Usually seen at dusk flying over cloud forest, but can also be seen roosting during the day on horizontal branches (if you’re lucky!) Similar to Short-tailed Nighthawk but found at higher elevations.
Marigold Lorikeet
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A handsome long-tailed green parrot with a purple head, a red bill, and a striking yellow chest and collar. In flight, note conspicuous yellow underwings. Juveniles have a brown bill and are duller in color. Pairs and small groups inhabit a variety of forest types in the lowlands of its limited range in the Lesser Sundas. Differs from Olive-headed Lorikeet in being a larger, lowland species with a dark purple-colored head. Regularly gives ear-splitting shrieks.
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