Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 4.8 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 Amazilia
- Species tzacatl
Where it lives
Central Mexico to Venezuela and western Ecuador
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 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 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird 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 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA c Mexico to Venezuela and w Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 3.4 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 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 4.8 g.
Where does the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird live?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA c Mexico to Venezuela and w Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird belong to?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird eat?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird migrate?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird 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 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird — including its dawn song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird's range?
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 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.
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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.