Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Letitia’s Thorntail
Discosura letitiae
Letitia's Thorntail (Discosura letitiae) — Hummingbirds of South America.
The Letitia’s Thorntail (Discosura letitiae) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.8 g.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Not enough information to assess its risk of extinction.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Discosura
- Species letitiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Letitia’s Thorntail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Letitia’s Thorntail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Letitia’s Thorntail (Discosura letitiae) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 g, with a wing length of about 3.8 cm and a tail of around 3.6 cm.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Letitia’s Thorntail?
The Letitia’s Thorntail is a very small bird that weighs around 2.8 g.
Where does the Letitia’s Thorntail live?
The Letitia’s Thorntail is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Letitia’s Thorntail belong to?
The Letitia’s Thorntail (Discosura letitiae) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Letitia’s Thorntail eat?
The Letitia’s Thorntail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Letitia’s Thorntail migrate?
The Letitia’s Thorntail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.