Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-tailed Emerald
Chlorostilbon mellisugus
Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.6 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 Chlorostilbon
- Species mellisugus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.6 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 Blue-tailed Emerald 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 Blue-tailed Emerald is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n, ne.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 g, with a wing length of about 4.6 cm and a tail of around 2.4 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-tailed Emerald?
The Blue-tailed Emerald is a very small bird that weighs around 2.6 g.
Where does the Blue-tailed Emerald live?
The Blue-tailed Emerald is found across South America with a range covering SA n, ne, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Blue-tailed Emerald belong to?
The Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Blue-tailed Emerald eat?
The Blue-tailed Emerald is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Blue-tailed Emerald migrate?
The Blue-tailed Emerald is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Blue-tailed Emerald 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 Blue-tailed Emerald make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-tailed Emerald — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-tailed Emerald's range?
The Blue-tailed Emerald has a mapped global range of about 4.1 million km².
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.