Short-tailed Emerald vs Short-tailed Woodstar

Short-tailed Emerald

Chlorostilbon poortmani

Tiny4 gForest

The male short-tailed emerald is 6.9 to 8.5 cm (2.7 to 3.3 in) long and females 6.5 to 7.5 cm (2.6 to 3.0 in). The species weighs between 3 and 4 g (0.11 and 0.14 oz). Both sexes of both subspecies have a straight black bill. Males of the nominate subspecies have an iridescent green forehead and bronzy green crown, upperparts, and uppertail coverts. Their underparts are brilliant glittery green. Their tail is short, forked, and iridescent bronze green. Nominate females have a dull green forehead and a dull bronzy green crown, upperparts, and uppertail coverts. Their underparts are gray. Voice: What is thought to be the short-tailed emerald's song is "a long series of high-pitched tseep notes" that is thought to be sung only in the wet season. It also makes "repeated short tsip and longer downslurred plaintive tsew...tsew.." calls.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ariel Gallego · CC BY 4.0

Short-tailed Woodstar

Myrmia micrura

Tiny2 gShrubland

The short-tailed woodstar is about 6 cm (2.4 in) long and weighs about 2.3 g (0.081 oz). It and the gorgeted woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor) are the smallest birds in South America, though the little woodstar (C. bombus) is only slightly longer. It has a very short, slightly decurved, black bill. Both sexes have shining green upperparts. Males have a white stripe from the bill to below the eye. Their gorget is glittering violet and the breast white with dingy flanks. Their very short tail's central feathers are green and the rest blackish. Voice: The male short-tailed woodstar's song, given during the display flight, is "a sweet, high series of tititi notes interspersed with a high sweee." The species' call is a "thin tchi-tchi-tchi."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Flight call, song · Guayas: 3 km E Pacoa Beach, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dan Vickers · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Short-tailed Emerald and Short-tailed Woodstar.