Photo: John Gould / William Matthew Hart / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird
Hylonympha macrocerca
Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (Hylonympha macrocerca) — Hummingbirds of South America.
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (Hylonympha macrocerca) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 7.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Hylonympha
- Species macrocerca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.3 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scissor-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 Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (Hylonympha macrocerca) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Venezuela.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 228 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 7.3 g.
Where does the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird live?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Venezuela, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird belong to?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (Hylonympha macrocerca) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird eat?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird migrate?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird make?
1 real field recording of the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird — 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 Scissor-tailed Hummingbird's range?
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 228 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
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Least Concern
Near Threatened
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Least Concern
Least Concern
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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.