How do you identify a Short-tailed Woodstar?

The short-tailed woodstar is about 6 cm (2.4 in) long and weighs about 2.3 g (0.081 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Short-tailed Woodstar?

The Short-tailed Woodstar is a tiny sized bird weighing about 2 g.

Where can you see a Short-tailed Woodstar?

The Short-tailed Woodstar occurs in 2 countries, including Peru and Ecuador.

What does a Short-tailed Woodstar sound like?

You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Short-tailed Woodstar on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.

What birds look similar to a Short-tailed Woodstar?

The Short-tailed Woodstar is most easily confused with the Little Hermit, the Pale-tailed Barbthroat and the Short-tailed Emerald.

Is the Short-tailed Woodstar endangered?

The Short-tailed Woodstar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Short-tailed Woodstar

Myrmia micrura

Hummingbirds · Apodiformes · Rare

The Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura) is a rare hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 2 g. The short-tailed woodstar is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds".

Least ConcernRareEats nectarshrublandcup nest2 g

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 1 — Photo: Dan Vickers · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 2 — Photo: David F. Belmonte · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 3 — Photo: Manuel Roncal · http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 4 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 5 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 6 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 7 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 8 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 9 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura), photo 10 — Photo: John G. Phillips · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

About the Short-tailed Woodstar

The short-tailed woodstar is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is the only species placed in the genus Myrmia. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

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

How to identify it

The short-tailed woodstar is about 6 cm (2.4 in) long and weighs about 2.3 g (0.081 oz). It and the gorgeted woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor) are the smallest birds in South America, though the little woodstar (C. bombus) is only slightly longer. It has a very short, slightly decurved, black bill. Both sexes have shining green upperparts. Males have a white stripe from the bill to below the eye. Their gorget is glittering violet and the breast white with dingy flanks. Their very short tail's central feathers are green and the rest blackish. Voice: The male short-tailed woodstar's song, given during the display flight, is "a sweet, high series of tititi notes interspersed with a high sweee." The species' call is a "thin tchi-tchi-tchi."

What the Short-tailed Woodstar sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Peru Ecuador

When to see it

The Short-tailed Woodstar 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 Short-tailed Woodstar?: The short-tailed woodstar is about 6 cm (2.4 in) long and weighs about 2.3 g (0.081 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Short-tailed Woodstar?: The Short-tailed Woodstar is a tiny sized bird weighing about 2 g.
Where can you see a Short-tailed Woodstar?: The Short-tailed Woodstar occurs in 2 countries, including Peru and Ecuador.
What does a Short-tailed Woodstar sound like?: You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Short-tailed Woodstar on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Short-tailed Woodstar?: The Short-tailed Woodstar is most easily confused with the Little Hermit, the Pale-tailed Barbthroat and the Short-tailed Emerald.
Is the Short-tailed Woodstar endangered?: The Short-tailed Woodstar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Short-tailed Woodstar 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.

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