Green-tailed Goldenthroat

About the Green-tailed Goldenthroat

The green-tailed goldenthroat (Polytmus theresiae) is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae, the mangoes. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, and possibly Ecuador.

The green-tailed goldenthroat was at one time placed in the monotypic genus Psilomycter, then in Smaragdites which had priority; the latter was later merged into Polytmus. The green-tailed goldenthroat has two subspecies, the nominate P. t. theresiae and P. t. leucorrhous.

The green-tailed goldenthroat is 8.9 to 9.9 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs 3.0 to 3.9 g (0.11 to 0.14 oz). Both sexes of both subspecies have a long slightly decurved pinkish and black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies is overall shining green. The tail is rounded and green, with all but the central pair of feathers having white at their base. The area around the eye is dusky gray with a white spot behind the eye. The female is smaller. Its throat and breast are whitish thickly spotted with green, and the outermost tail feathers have white tips. Juveniles are like the adult female but with buffy edges to the head's feathers... Wikipedia →