Buff-tailed Sicklebill
Eutoxeres condamini
Heavily-streaked hummingbird with an amazing hooklike bill. It ranges in humid foothill forest along the east slope of the Andes, where it overlaps widely with the similar White-tipped Sicklebill. Both species have white tips to the tail, but note Buff-tailed’s buffy edges on the tail feathers and glittering blue or green patches on the sides of the neck. Feeds primarily on “lobster claw” Heliconia flowers and is rarely encountered away from them. Song is an extended, rollicking series of soft chirps given from a concealed perch. Not known to visit feeders.
Identification
With a total length of 5–6 in (13–15 cm) and weighing 0.28–0.44 oz (7.9–12.5 g), it is a relatively large hummingbird. Males and females are virtually identical, differing only in size (especially wing measurements), with the females being some 20% smaller.<p>Its upperparts are iridescent dull greenish, while the underparts are whitish, densely streaked with dusky. The neck-side has a relatively faint blue patch. The tips of the rectrices (tail feathers) are white, and there is a naked stripe on top of the head (but this is usually concealed). The most conspicuous features, however, are those the common name refers to: the bill is strongly decurved, and the outer three rectrices on each side are deep buff, best visible from below.<p>Immature birds have light-tipped remiges (pinions), hardly any blue on the neck, and lack the naked crown stripe. Hatchlings have black skin and grey down.<p>There are two subspecies which are not very distinct and almost form a continuous cline, with an extensive intergradation zone in northern Peru:<p>The buff outer remiges are the most reliable trait for separating the buff-tailed sicklebill from the only other member of the genus Eutoxeres, the white-tipped sicklebill (E. aquila), which has a more northerly distribution. The Eutoxeres species are somewhat sympatric however, for example in the foothills of Putumayo around Mocoa, Colombia.
Taxonomy
Genus: Eutoxeres; Family: Trochilidae; Order: Apodiformes.
- Scientific name
- Eutoxeres condamini
- Authority
- (Bourcier, 1851)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Eutoxeres
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown Parisoma
Curruca lugens
Remarkably plain brown warbler whose most outstanding features are a finely speckled throat and a white outer tail. Found in the canopy of acacia trees at middle and high elevations. Slow-moving and inconspicuous. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Not very vocal, but does give a simple whistled song and ratcheting calls. Somewhat similar to Garden Warbler, but darker below, with white edges to the tail. Could also be mistaken for female Eurasian Blackcap, but lacks its rufous cap.
Great Dusky Swift
Cypseloides senex
Large swift with uniform cold brown plumage with a pale face. Similar to Sooty Swift, but is larger and paler. Most often seen close to waterfalls where they roost and nest, often gathering in huge groups. Forages widely over a variety of habitats.
White-browed Bulbul
Pycnonotus luteolus
A plain brownish bulbul that is endemic to the bottom half of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Ubiquitous inhabitant of scrubby habitat across its range and sometimes overlaps with Yellow-throated Bulbul in rocky scrub. Although both species have a yellow vent and can sound similar, White-browed can be distinguished by its brown face and white eyebrow. Usually occurs in pairs and tends to skulk in undergrowth. Rather noisy but uncommonly seen, listen for regular, short bursts of distinctive raucous babbling.
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