Wedge-tailed Hillstar
Oreotrochilus adela
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) is a legendary hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 8 g. The wedge-tailed hillstar is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Wedge-tailed Hillstar
The wedge-tailed hillstar is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The wedge-tailed hillstar is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long and weighs 7.4 to 8.3 g (0.26 to 0.29 oz). Adults have a medium length slightly decurved black bill. Both sexes' upperparts are gray-brown with a bronzy cast. The adult male has a glittering green gorget and chestnut underparts with a bold black stripe down the center. The tail is graduated and mostly blue-black; all but the central feathers have cinnamon inner webs. The adult female's throat is white with grayish and green spots and the rest of the underparts are pale rufous. Voice: The male wedge-tailed hillstar's display song is "a medley of intense twittering notes interspersed by a distinct descending cadence".
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, July, August, September, 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 Wedge-tailed Hillstar?
- The wedge-tailed hillstar is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long and weighs 7.4 to 8.3 g (0.26 to 0.29 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Wedge-tailed Hillstar?
- The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is a tiny sized bird weighing about 8 g.
- Where can you see a Wedge-tailed Hillstar?
- The Wedge-tailed Hillstar occurs in 2 countries, including Argentina and Bolivia.
- What birds look similar to a Wedge-tailed Hillstar?
- The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is most easily confused with the Green-headed Hillstar, the Blue-throated Hillstar and the Black-breasted Hillstar.
- Is the Wedge-tailed Hillstar endangered?
- The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Wedge-tailed Hillstar for real
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