Photo: Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Wire-crested Thorntail
Discosura popelairii
Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.5 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 Discosura
- Species popelairii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Wire-crested Thorntail 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 Wire-crested Thorntail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA ec Colombia to se Peru and nw Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.5 g, with a wing length of about 3.3 cm and a tail of around 2 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 165,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Wire-crested Thorntail?
The Wire-crested Thorntail is a very small bird that weighs around 2.5 g.
Where does the Wire-crested Thorntail live?
The Wire-crested Thorntail is found across South America with a range covering SA ec Colombia to se Peru and nw Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Wire-crested Thorntail belong to?
The Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Wire-crested Thorntail eat?
The Wire-crested Thorntail is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Wire-crested Thorntail migrate?
The Wire-crested Thorntail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Wire-crested Thorntail 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 Wire-crested Thorntail's range?
The Wire-crested Thorntail has a mapped global range of about 165,000 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.