Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Slender-tailed Woodstar
Microstilbon burmeisteri
Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri) — 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 Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.5 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 Microstilbon
- Species burmeisteri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.5 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 Slender-tailed Woodstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Slender-tailed Woodstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.5 g, with a wing length of about 3 cm and a tail of around 1.6 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 110,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slender-tailed Woodstar?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar is a very small bird that weighs around 2.5 g.
Where does the Slender-tailed Woodstar live?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar is found across South America with a range covering SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Slender-tailed Woodstar belong to?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Slender-tailed Woodstar eat?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Slender-tailed Woodstar migrate?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Slender-tailed Woodstar 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 Slender-tailed Woodstar make?
1 real field recording of the Slender-tailed Woodstar can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Slender-tailed Woodstar's range?
The Slender-tailed Woodstar has a mapped global range of about 110,000 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.