Black Metaltail
Metallura phoebe
The Black Metaltail (Metallura phoebe) is a rare hummingbird found only in Peru, weighing about 5 g. The black metaltail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Black Metaltail
The black metaltail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black metaltail is 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). It has a medium length, straight, black bill. The adult male is overall black with a purplish or rosy gray sheen. Its slightly forked tail is iridescent bronzy gold and rosy gray on its upper side and glittering golden-orange on its underside. It has a conspicuous white spot behind the eye and its gorget is glittering turquoise green. The adult female is overall dark smoky gray with a smaller gorget than the male. Juveniles are similar to the female but without a gorget. Voice: What is thought to be the black metaltail's song is "a repeated high-pitched single note, tsee.....tsee.....tsee...". Its presumed chase call is "a descending series of 4–6 high-pitched notes reminiscent of a Picumnus piculet". It also makes a repeated "short dry trill; djrrt...and longer dry chatters."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Black Metaltail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black Metaltail?
- The black metaltail is 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black Metaltail?
- The Black Metaltail is a tiny sized bird weighing about 5 g.
- Where can you see a Black Metaltail?
- The Black Metaltail is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Black Metaltail?
- The Black Metaltail is most easily confused with the Scaled Metaltail, the Coppery Metaltail and the Violet-throated Metaltail.
- Is the Black Metaltail endangered?
- The Black Metaltail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black Metaltail for real
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