Ecuadorian Piedtail

Phlogophilus hemileucurus

Hummingbirds · Apodiformes · Rare

The Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) is a rare hummingbird found in 3 countries, weighing about 3 g. The Ecuadorian piedtail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.

Least ConcernRareEats nectarforestcup nest3 g

About the Ecuadorian Piedtail

The Ecuadorian piedtail is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Ecuadorian piedtail is 7.3 to 7.6 cm (2.9 to 3.0 in) long and weighs 2.2 to 3.7 g (0.078 to 0.13 oz). The adult male and female are alike. They have a short, straight, black bill with a yellowish base. Their crown is greenish brown and the rest of the upperparts grass green. They have a white spot behind the eye. The throat and breast are white with green spots with a white band separating them. The belly is whitish. The innermost pair of tail feathers are blue-green; the others are blue with white bases and broad white tips. Voice: The Ecuadorian piedtail's song is "a series of typically three high-pitched buzzy notes...followed by several twittering notes 'tzeeeee...tzeee.tzew..tititititi', continuously repeated." Its calls include "a descending series of 3–4 high-pitched 'see' notes..., a repeated 'tsik' note and high-pitched twittering."

What the Ecuadorian Piedtail sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

When to see it

The Ecuadorian Piedtail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify an Ecuadorian Piedtail?
The Ecuadorian piedtail is 7.3 to 7.6 cm (2.9 to 3.0 in) long and weighs 2.2 to 3.7 g (0.078 to 0.13 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is an Ecuadorian Piedtail?
The Ecuadorian Piedtail is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
Where can you see an Ecuadorian Piedtail?
The Ecuadorian Piedtail occurs in 3 countries, including Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
What does an Ecuadorian Piedtail sound like?
You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Ecuadorian Piedtail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to an Ecuadorian Piedtail?
The Ecuadorian Piedtail is most easily confused with the Peruvian Piedtail.
Is the Ecuadorian Piedtail endangered?
The Ecuadorian Piedtail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Ecuadorian Piedtail for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.