Purple-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron microrhynchum
The Purple-backed Thornbill (Ramphomicron microrhynchum) is a rare hummingbird found in 5 countries, weighing about 4 g. The purple-backed thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Purple-backed Thornbill
The purple-backed thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The purple-backed thornbill is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs about 3.5 g (0.12 oz). Both sexes have a black bill, the shortest of any hummingbird. Males of the nominate subspecies have metallic violet-purple upperparts with a white spot behind the eye. Their gorget is iridescent golden green, the underparts bronzy green, and the undertail coverts coppery with tawny fringes. The tail is moderately long, forked, and dark purple. Nominate females have shining green upperparts, and like the male, a white spot behind the eye. Voice: The purple-backed thornbill's song is "a continuous series of quiet scratchy notes interspersed by short buzzes or dry trills." Its calls include "a short dry rattle 'trrr'..., a scratchy 'krr-kit', and a long twittering rattle."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Purple-backed Thornbill 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 Purple-backed Thornbill?
- The purple-backed thornbill is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs about 3.5 g (0.12 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Purple-backed Thornbill?
- The Purple-backed Thornbill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 4 g.
- Where can you see a Purple-backed Thornbill?
- The Purple-backed Thornbill occurs in 5 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Purple-backed Thornbill?
- The Purple-backed Thornbill is most easily confused with the Black-backed Thornbill.
- Is the Purple-backed Thornbill endangered?
- The Purple-backed Thornbill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Purple-backed Thornbill 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 BeakBrainEvery 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.