Black-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron dorsale
The Black-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron dorsale) is a rare hummingbird found only in Colombia, weighing about 4 g. The black-backed thornbill is a Near Threatened species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Black-backed Thornbill
The black-backed thornbill is a Near Threatened species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of northern Colombia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-backed thornbill is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs about 3.5 g (0.12 oz). Both sexes have a very short black bill; the male's is slightly decurved. The male's upperparts are velvety black with purplish uppertail coverts and a white spot behind the eye. Their gorget is olive green and the rest of the underparts are a mix of dark gray and rufous with green dots. The tail is moderately long, deeply forked, and purplish black. Females have shining grass green upperparts, and like the male, purplish uppertail coverts and a white spot behind the eye. Voice: The black-backed thornbill's calls include "a short dry rattle 'trrr'...a long descending rattle...'tsee-tttrrrrrrrr-tsee', single 'tsee' notes."
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, July, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-backed Thornbill?
- The black-backed thornbill is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs about 3.5 g (0.12 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-backed Thornbill?
- The Black-backed Thornbill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 4 g.
- Where can you see a Black-backed Thornbill?
- The Black-backed Thornbill is endemic to Colombia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Black-backed Thornbill?
- The Black-backed Thornbill is most easily confused with the Purple-backed Thornbill.
- Is the Black-backed Thornbill endangered?
- The Black-backed Thornbill is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-backed Thornbill for real
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