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Peruvian Sheartail

Thaumastura cora

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernNectarShrublandCup nestTiny · 2 g
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 1
Photo: nmoorhatch · CC BY 4.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 2
Photo: Ruth Gutiérrez Oliveros · CC0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 3
Photo: Alexis Williams · CC BY 4.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 4
Photo: Alexis Williams · CC BY 4.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 5
Photo: nmoorhatch · CC BY 4.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 6
Photo: Jan Ebr · CC BY 4.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 7
Photo: Biodiversity Heritage Library · CC BY 2.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 8
Photo: Biodiversity Heritage Library · CC BY 2.0
Peruvian Sheartail (Thaumastura cora), photo 9
Photo: Antoine Germain Bevalet (1779–1850) · Public domain

ID tip

The male Peruvian sheartail is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long and weighs about 2.5 g (0.088 oz). The female about 7.5 cm (3.0 in) long and weighs about 2.6 g (0.092 oz). It is among the tiniest hummingbirds. Both sexes have a short, straight, black bill. Both sexes have metallic green upperparts, including the top of the face, that are darker towards the tail. The female's green has a faint beige tinge. Both sexes have an indistinct white spot behind the eye. Males have an iridescent magenta gorget that appears cyan or black at different angles; the female's throat is cream. Voice: The male Peruvian sheartail's song is "squeaky, incessant, undirected has at least 4 syllables". It is given from a perch or during the shuttle flight and can last a minute or more. Shorter versions are given during agonistic encounters with other males. Both sexes make "a short chip call".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Peruvian Sheartail

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Peruvian Sheartail

Regular range

The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Peru Chile Ecuador

About the Peruvian Sheartail

The Peruvian sheartail is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is the only species placed in the genus Thaumastura. It is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

Easily confused with

Gorgeted Sunangel (Heliangelus strophianus) Gorgeted SunangelHeliangelus strophianusThe gorgeted sunangel is 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) long and weighs about 5.3 g (0.19 oz). Mexican Sheartail (Doricha eliza) Mexican SheartailDoricha elizaThis is a tiny bird, weighing only 2.4 to 2.6 g (0.085 to 0.092 oz). Xantus's Hummingbird (Basilinna xantusii) Xantus's HummingbirdBasilinna xantusiiXantus's hummingbird is 8.5 to 9.5 cm (3.3 to 3.7 in) long.

Side by side: Gorgeted Sunangel vs Peruvian Sheartail · Mexican Sheartail vs Peruvian Sheartail · Peruvian Sheartail vs Xantus's Hummingbird

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