Olivaceous Thornbill
Chalcostigma olivaceum
The Olivaceous Thornbill (Chalcostigma olivaceum) is a legendary hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 9 g. The olivaceous thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Olivaceous Thornbill
The olivaceous thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The olivaceous thornbill is 12 to 15 cm (4.7 to 5.9 in) long. One male specimen weighed 8.2 g (0.29 oz) and a female one 6.6 g (0.23 oz). Both sexes have a short black bill. Adult males of the nominate subspecies are mostly dull dark bronzy or olive green, including the tail. The face and throat are dark sooty gray. It has a narrow gorget that is glittering green at the throat and shades through yellow, pink, and purple to blue at its bottom. The adult nominate female is essentially the same but the gorget is much smaller or may be absent. Voice: As of early 2022, Xeno-canto had only one recording of an olivaceous thornbill vocalization, described as "a 'tzit' call". Cornell University's Macaulay Library had none.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Olivaceous Thornbill?
- The olivaceous thornbill is 12 to 15 cm (4.7 to 5.9 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Olivaceous Thornbill?
- The Olivaceous Thornbill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see an Olivaceous Thornbill?
- The Olivaceous Thornbill occurs in 2 countries, including Peru and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to an Olivaceous Thornbill?
- The Olivaceous Thornbill is most easily confused with the Rufous-capped Thornbill, the Bronze-tailed Thornbill and the Blue-mantled Thornbill.
- Is the Olivaceous Thornbill endangered?
- The Olivaceous Thornbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Olivaceous Thornbill for real
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