Black Metaltail
Metallura phoebe
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusMetallura (Metaltails)
- SpeciesMetallura phoebe (Black Metaltail)
About the Black Metaltail
The black metaltail (Metallura phoebe) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Peru. The black metaltail is monotypic. Slight differences between populations in the north and south of its range have led to speculation that it might have two subspecies. It appears to be sister to the other species of the genus Metallura.
The black metaltail is 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). It has a medium length, straight, black bill. The adult male is overall black with a purplish or rosy gray sheen. Its slightly forked tail is iridescent bronzy gold and rosy gray on its upper side and glittering golden-orange on its underside. It has a conspicuous white spot behind the eye and its gorget is glittering turquoise green. The adult female is overall dark smoky gray with a smaller gorget than the male. Juveniles are similar to the female but without a gorget.
The black metaltail is found on the western slope of the Peruvian Andes from southern Cajamarca Department south almost to the Chilean border. It also occurs in some valleys... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Black Metaltail in Huascarán National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Huascarán National Park
Tyrian Metaltail
Metallura tyrianthina
Giant Hummingbird
Patagona gigas
Sparkling Violetear
Colibri coruscans
Shining Sunbeam
Aglaeactis cupripennis
Green-headed Hillstar
Oreotrochilus stolzmanni
Blue-mantled Thornbill
Chalcostigma stanleyi
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Lesbia nuna
Lesser Violetear
Colibri cyanotus
Purple-collared Woodstar
Myrtis fanny
Black-tailed Trainbearer
Lesbia victoriae
Rainbow Starfrontlet
Coeligena iris
Oasis Hummingbird
Rhodopis vesper
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huascarán National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Metaltail in Huascarán National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black Metaltail sighting in Huascarán National Park, based on 366 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Metaltail in Huascarán National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Black Metaltail in Huascarán National Park in our monthly data.