About the Marvelous Spatuletail
The marvelous spatuletail is an endangered species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to northern Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The male marvelous spatuletail is 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) long including its 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) tail. Females are 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long with a 5 to 7 cm (2.0 to 2.8 in) tail. The male's signature feature is its two outer tail feathers with bare shafts that cross each other and end in large purplish black racquets or "spatules". The remaining tail feathers are very short and are supported by two long undertail coverts. The female's outer tail feathers are also long, but shorter than the male's, and do not have the racquets. Voice: The male marvelous spatuletail gives "a repeated high-pitched buzzy metallic note...'tzzz...tzzz...'" during its aerial display. Its calls include "an upslurred high-pitched sweet note 'tswee'" and "a more strident 'tsik'".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Needle-billed HermitPhaethornis philippiiThe needle-billed hermit is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long.
Butterfly CoquetteLophornis verreauxiiThe butterfly coquette is 7.5 to 9.1 cm (3.0 to 3.6 in) long.
Mexican WoodnymphEupherusa ridgwayiMexican woodnymphs are small birds, generally 9–10 centimetres (3.5–3.9 in) long.
Learn the Marvelous Spatuletail for real
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