Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird
Phaeochroa cuvierii
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 8.9 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Phaeochroa
- Species cuvierii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.9 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to n Colombia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 238,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 8.9 g.
Where does the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird live?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to n Colombia, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird belong to?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Phaeochroa cuvierii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird eat?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird migrate?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scaly-breasted Hummingbird's range?
The Scaly-breasted Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 238,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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.