Green-tailed Goldenthroat
Polytmus theresiae
Medium-sized hummingbird of semi-open areas. Note entirely green plumage (including tail) and plain face with white spot behind eye. May be found in coastal savannas, savanna enclaves at lower elevations in the tepui region, and patches of dry scrub on rock formations in rainforest. Perches on low shrubs, often near temporary pools, preening and chasing other hummingbirds. Similar to Glittering-throated Emerald but lacks any white below and shows less contrast between face and throat. Frequently produced song is an excited, accelerating series of notes.
Identification
The green-tailed goldenthroat is 8.9 to 9.9 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs 3.0 to 3.9 g (0.11 to 0.14 oz). Both sexes of both subspecies have a long slightly decurved pinkish and black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies is overall shining green. The tail is rounded and green, with all but the central pair of feathers having white at their base. The area around the eye is dusky gray with a white spot behind the eye. The female is smaller. Its throat and breast are whitish thickly spotted with green, and the outermost tail feathers have white tips. Juveniles are like the adult female but with buffy edges to the head's feathers. P. t. leucorrhous is essentially the same as the nominate but for having a white vent area and undertail coverts.
Taxonomy
The green-tailed goldenthroat was at one time placed in the monotypic genus Psilomycter, then in Smaragdites which had priority; the latter was later merged into Polytmus. The green-tailed goldenthroat has two subspecies, the nominate P. t. theresiae and P. t. leucorrhous.
- Scientific name
- Polytmus theresiae
- Authority
- (Da Silva Maia, 1843)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Polytmus
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of green-tailed goldenthroat is found in the Guianas and north-central Brazil from the lower Negro and Madeira rivers east into the states of Pará and Amapá. P. t. leucorrhous is found from eastern Colombia and southern Venezuela into the upper Negro River area of Brazil, and separately in eastern Peru and northern Bolivia. In addition, the South American Classification Committee (SACC) of the American Ornithological Society lists it as hypothetical in Ecuador. The species inhabits the edges of sand-soil forest and sandy savanna with scattered small trees and stands of bushes. In elevation it generally ranges between 100 and 300 m (330 and 980 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Verreaux's Batis
Batis minima
A very small and striking gray, white, and black flycatcher-like bird with a very dark crown, a yellow eye, white wingbars, and a white spot above the bill base. Sexes differ: male’s chest band is broad and black, while female’s is gray. Juvenile has a rusty-tinged breast. Pairs are rare and localized residents in secondary forest, forest edge, and plantations. Calls include a series of 5–20 thin short high-pitched “seeet” notes on the same pitch, faster and more monotonous than similar sounds of other batises. Verreaux’s Batis is smaller and has a cleaner, thinner song than West African Batis. Female Verreaux’s also has a gray rather than chestnut breast band.
Asian Dowitcher
Limnodromus semipalmatus
Very uncommon large, long-billed shorebird, nearly the size of a godwit, found in coastal mudflats and open marshes. Breeding adult extensively brick-red below, dark and strongly marked with brick-red tones above. Nonbreeding adult grayish brown with a duller, browner bill. Juvenile dark above, with broad gold feather edges, pale below, washed with warm buff or gold tones and with neat dark stipples and chevron-shaped marks. Blackish legs distinguish Asian from Long-billed Dowitcher, which has yellowish-green legs. Blackish or brownish bill of adult Asian differs from bicolored bill of godwits; note that bill of juvenile Asian has pale base.
Giant Wren
Campylorhynchus chiapensis
Very large wren restricted to coastal plain of Chiapas and adjacent Guatemala. Favors open and semiopen areas with hedges, scattered large trees, stone walls, and thickets; often in and around villages and in gardens of small farms. Forages from the ground to the canopy of palm trees, mainly at low to middle levels. Occurs alongside somewhat smaller, but rather similar rufous-backed form of Rufous-naped Wren. Note Giant’s plain rufous back and wings and rufous tail (Rufous-naped Wren has boldly barred wings andblackish tail). Despite large size, can be elusive, like all wrens.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.