Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Slender Sheartail
Doricha enicura
Slender Sheartail (Doricha enicura) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Slender Sheartail (Doricha enicura) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 2.4 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 Doricha
- Species enicura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.4 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 Slender Sheartail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Slender Sheartail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Slender Sheartail (Doricha enicura) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Mexico to El Salvador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.4 g, with a wing length of about 3.7 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 79,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slender Sheartail?
The Slender Sheartail is a very small bird that weighs around 2.4 g.
Where does the Slender Sheartail live?
The Slender Sheartail is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Mexico to El Salvador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Slender Sheartail belong to?
The Slender Sheartail (Doricha enicura) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Slender Sheartail eat?
The Slender Sheartail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Slender Sheartail migrate?
The Slender Sheartail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Slender Sheartail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Slender Sheartail's range?
The Slender Sheartail has a mapped global range of about 79,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.