White-tailed Emerald
Microchera chionura
White-tailed Emerald (Microchera chionura) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-tailed Emerald (Microchera chionura) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 3 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Microchera
- Species chionura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-tailed Emerald 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 White-tailed Emerald is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-tailed Emerald (Microchera chionura) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA Costa Rica and Panama.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 3 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 2.9 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-tailed Emerald?
The White-tailed Emerald is a very small bird that weighs around 3 g.
Where does the White-tailed Emerald live?
The White-tailed Emerald is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA Costa Rica and Panama, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-tailed Emerald belong to?
The White-tailed Emerald (Microchera chionura) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-tailed Emerald eat?
The White-tailed Emerald is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the White-tailed Emerald migrate?
The White-tailed Emerald is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the White-tailed Emerald make?
1 real field recording of the White-tailed Emerald — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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
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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.