Photo: wang cai / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-capped Thornbill
Chalcostigma ruficeps
Rufous-capped Thornbill (Chalcostigma ruficeps) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-capped Thornbill (Chalcostigma ruficeps) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 3.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Chalcostigma
- Species ruficeps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-capped Thornbill 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 Rufous-capped Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-capped Thornbill (Chalcostigma ruficeps) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Ecuador to wc Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 3.4 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 124,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-capped Thornbill?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill is a very small bird that weighs around 3.4 g.
Where does the Rufous-capped Thornbill live?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill is found across South America with a range covering SA se Ecuador to wc Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-capped Thornbill belong to?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill (Chalcostigma ruficeps) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous-capped Thornbill eat?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous-capped Thornbill migrate?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-capped Thornbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-capped Thornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-capped Thornbill — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-capped Thornbill's range?
The Rufous-capped Thornbill has a mapped global range of about 124,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.