Grey-bellied Comet
Taphrolesbia griseiventris
The Grey-bellied Comet (Taphrolesbia griseiventris) is a legendary hummingbird found only in Peru, weighing about 9 g. The grey-bellied comet is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.
About the Grey-bellied Comet
The grey-bellied comet is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found only in a few small areas of Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The grey-bellied comet is a large hummingbird with a long beak and a deeply forked tail, growing to 14 to 17 centimetres (5.5 to 6.7 in). The upperparts are bronzy-green and the long green tail feathers have orangeish tips. The underparts are grey and the male has a blue throat. The tail of the female is shorter than that of the male. Both sexes have a small white spot behind the eye.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Grey-bellied Comet can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Grey-bellied Comet?
- The grey-bellied comet is a large hummingbird with a long beak and a deeply forked tail, growing to 14 to 17 centimetres (5.5 to 6.7 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Grey-bellied Comet?
- The Grey-bellied Comet is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see a Grey-bellied Comet?
- The Grey-bellied Comet is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Grey-bellied Comet?
- The Grey-bellied Comet is most easily confused with the Inagua Woodstar, the Humboldt's Sapphire and the Outcrop Sabrewing.
- Is the Grey-bellied Comet endangered?
- The Grey-bellied Comet is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Grey-bellied Comet for real
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