Slender-tailed Woodstar
Microstilbon burmeisteri
The Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri) is a rare hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 3 g. The slender-tailed woodstar is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds".
About the Slender-tailed Woodstar
The slender-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 Microstilbon. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The slender-tailed woodstar is 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long including its 3 cm (1.2 in) tail. Both sexes have a short, straight, black bill, bronzy green upperparts, and a thin white stripe behind the eye. Males have a reddish purple gorget that flares to the side as "moustache" tufts. The rest of the throat is white, the underparts pale grayish with green mottling on the sides, and the undertail coverts are pale cinnamon. The very narrow forked tail is black. Females have darker cheeks than the male. They do not have the colorful gorget; their underparts are cinnamon-buff. Voice: Few of the slender-tailed woodstar's vocalizations are known. It does make "a series of dull 'chip' notes" while feeding and hovering.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Slender-tailed Woodstar?
- The slender-tailed woodstar is 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) long including its 3 cm (1.2 in) tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Slender-tailed Woodstar?
- The Slender-tailed Woodstar is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Slender-tailed Woodstar?
- The Slender-tailed Woodstar occurs in 2 countries, including Argentina and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Slender-tailed Woodstar?
- The Slender-tailed Woodstar is most easily confused with the Rufous-shafted Woodstar, the Scaled Metaltail and the Honduran Emerald.
- Is the Slender-tailed Woodstar endangered?
- The Slender-tailed Woodstar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Slender-tailed Woodstar for real
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