Hummingbirds

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Trinidad and Tobago Hummingbirds

Scientific Name Common Name Notes Size Call Behaviour Where seen Seasonality Commonality IUCN Red List Status
Phaethornis longuemareus Little Hermit Bronze green, rufous, white tipped elongated tail, long decurved bill 4″ Light squeek Skittish Forest edges, some gardens Year round Less common Least concern
Glaucis hirsutus Rufous-Breasted Hermit Bronze green/ rufous, strongly decurved bill, rounded, white tipped tail 5″ Sweet – single high pitched note Skittish Forests, gardens at low level Year round More common Least concern
Phaethornis guy   Large, green above, grey below, strongly decurved bill 6.5″ Sharp squeek Restless, may be found in leks Hill forests, often in undergrowth, some gardens. Year round Less common  
Campylopterus ensipenis   Large, bright green. Male – dark blue throat. White tail feathers. Female less blue on throat. 5″ Single loud note, fairly high pitched Fearless, inquisitive Tobago rainforest, north of Mason Hall Year round Increasing  
Chrysolampis mosquitus   Medium size  – Male- dark brown upper, red head, yellow breast, chestnut tail. Female – Bronze green above, grey below, tail chestnut with white tips. Juvenile as female but outer tail violet 3.5″ Tsip – high pitched single note Dominant at feeders, male likes to display tail, head, throat Open country, gardens January to August Common  
 Florisuga mellivora   Large blue, green, white tail (male), Green upper, white green breast (female) 4.5″ Tit-tit-tit high pitched Gregarious, often seen fanning white tails Forest, higher elevations, gardens Year round Common  
 Colibri delphinae   Large brown 4.75″ Chip-chip-chip-chip-chip – 5 syllable loud call Dominant Forest, higher elevations Year round Uncommon  
 Anthracotherax nigricolis   Medium size. Male – Upper bronze Green, purple tail, chest  black. Female – white chest with black stripe. Fairly long, slightly decurved bill 4.5″ Tsick tsick, high pitched single note Slightly wary Open country, gardens, cultivated land Year round Common  
 Anthracotherax viridigula   Medium size. Male – Upper bronze Green, purple tail, chest green, black. Female – white chest with black stripe. Fairly long, slightly decurved bill 5″ Tsick tsick, high pitched single note Less wary than black throated Mangrove swamps, ocasionally gardens Year round Less common  
 Polytmus guainumbi   Medium size  pale: bronze green upper, leaf green underparts, outer tail white. Female has rufous tinged underparts. Bill is fairly long and slightly decurved. 4″ Tsip tsip – light sharp song. Also similar squeek to copper rump Wary. Seen feeding at chandelier flowers and yellow pea flowers Waterlogged savannahs, open areas. August to December mostly Uncommon  
 Saucerottia tobaci   Small size. Bronze green upper, bright green under parts, thighs white. 3.75   Aggressive and territorial, guards their feeding area strongly Widespread both islands, often near houses, open country, forest Year round Common and widespread  
 Chrysuronia brevirostris   Small size, golden green, underparts white, edged green 3.75″ Variable, 5 syllable song – tche-tchu-tche-tche, also soft clicks while feeding Aggressive and territorial, guards their feeding area strongly Widespread in clultivated areas, second growth, gardens Year round Common  
 Chlorostilbon mellisugus   V small size: golden green, white thighs, slightly forked steel blue tail. Female blackish ear patch, underparts greyish white,  Bill straight, all black 3″ Tsip – thin pebbly note while feeding Timid. Avoids nectar feeders West Trinidad and DDI. Forest edge, savannahs, gardens Year round Uncommon  
 Chionomesa fimbriata   Small size, bronze green upper, blackish bronze tail, glittering golden green throat. Pinkish lower mandible. 3.75″ High pitched ‘tsee’ notes and soft chatters. Tslee-tslee-tslee-tslee in flight. Feeds at low levels Forest edges Year round Extremely rare  
 Chlorostilbon notata   Small. Male – upper dark green/tail steel blue, upper throat and breast metallic blue. Female – as male but chest white with green spots. Bill straight, black, lower mandible pink 3.5″ Sssoo-sssooo-sssooo high pitched metallic sounding series Rather timid. Likes to bathe on wet leaves   Year round Common and widespread  
 Lophornis ornatus   Tiny – Male – bronze green/orange head/ iridescent green, long rufous neck tufts, female greenish, no tufts. Both sexes have pale buff bar on tail 2.75″ Chik – very slight single note while feeding Solitary but tame. Tail bobs while feeding, looks like a large bee. Difficult to distinguish from hummingbird moth. Avoids nectar feeders. Loves vervain, lantana flowers Forest edges, open cultivated areas, some gardens Year round Uncommon but widespread  
 Heliomaster longirostris   Medium size, Male bronze green back, crown blue, gorgette pink, underparts greyish. Female as male with greenish crown, black throat. Bill long and straight. 4.5″ Weet – when perched – short clicks in flight Timid. Perches high, swoops down to feeders Forests at all levels, likes high trees, gardens Year round Uncommon but widespread  
 Calliphlox amethystina   Tiny – green back, white band on rump, male has amethyst gorgette 2.75″ Trr – low, sharp rattle Buzzes around vervain flowers, defers to tufted coquettes Yerette, Matura forest edges March- August Extremely rare  
 Chaetocercus jourdanii   Tiny – mostly green with white/violet throat, forked tail 2.75″ Tssit, tssit, tssit, tssit – rising three-4 notes when perched Seen feeding at vervain and chandelier flowers Forest in Northern range January to August Extremely rare