Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron dorsale
Black-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron dorsale) — 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 Black-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron dorsale) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 3.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Ramphomicron
- Species dorsale
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-backed Thornbill is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-backed Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron dorsale) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Colombia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 3.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2,604 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-backed Thornbill?
The Black-backed Thornbill is a very small bird that weighs around 3.5 g.
Where does the Black-backed Thornbill live?
The Black-backed Thornbill is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-backed Thornbill belong to?
The Black-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron dorsale) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-backed Thornbill eat?
The Black-backed Thornbill is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-backed Thornbill migrate?
The Black-backed Thornbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-backed Thornbill endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Black-backed Thornbill make?
1 real field recording of the Black-backed 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 Black-backed Thornbill's range?
The Black-backed Thornbill has a mapped global range of about 2,604 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.