Photo: Thibaud Aronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Coppery Metaltail
Metallura theresiae
Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.9 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 Metallura
- Species theresiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.9 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Coppery Metaltail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Coppery Metaltail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n, c Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 35,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Coppery Metaltail?
The Coppery Metaltail is a very small bird that weighs around 4.9 g.
Where does the Coppery Metaltail live?
The Coppery Metaltail is found across South America with a range covering SA n, c Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Coppery Metaltail belong to?
The Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Coppery Metaltail eat?
The Coppery Metaltail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Coppery Metaltail migrate?
The Coppery Metaltail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Coppery Metaltail 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 Coppery Metaltail make?
1 real field recording of the Coppery Metaltail — 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 Coppery Metaltail's range?
The Coppery Metaltail has a mapped global range of about 35,000 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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Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
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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.