<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360989'>Black-backed Thornbill
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En bref
- Scientific Name: Ramphomicron dorsale
- Spanish Name: Colibrí piquicurvo dorsinegro
- Famille : Trochilidae
- Known Nicknames: Black-backed Thornbill, Black-backed Thornbill Hummingbird
- Average Length: 8–9 cm / 3.1–3.5 in
- Average Weight: 3–4 g / 0.11–0.14 oz
- Envergure : N/A
- Key Feature: Very short, straight black bill and iridescent green body with black back
- Primary Diet: Primarily Nectarivore
- Range: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia
- Habitat: High-altitude montane forest edges and páramo
- Structure sociale : Solitaire
- Nesting/Breeding: Small cup nest on tree branch or shrub
- Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
- Évolution démographique : Stable
The Black-backed Thornbill (*Ramphomicron dorsale*) is a dazzling hummingbird endemic to the high-altitude cloud forests of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where it is instantly recognizable by its striking sexual dimorphism and extreme bill shape. The male boasts a shimmering, velvety black back and crown that starkly contrasts with a brilliant emerald-green throat and breast, while the female is more subdued with a green upperpart and pale underparts, both sexes sharing the species’ most unique feature: an extraordinarily long, needle-thin, and decurved black bill that far exceeds the length of its head. This specialized beak is an evolutionary marvel, perfectly adapted for probing deep into tubular flowers like those of the *Fuchsia* and *Centropogon* for nectar, often while hovering with a distinctively rapid wingbeat. As a range-restricted species, it is a jewel of its montane ecosystem, with males performing dramatic aerial displays to defend territories, making it a sought-after sight for birdwatchers and a vital pollinator in its fragile habitat.
Faits amusants
The male Black-backed Thornbill’s iridescent back is a secret weapon: depending on the angle of the sun, it shifts from deep black to a shocking, fiery emerald green, a trick used in territorial flashes rather than courtship. Its tongue is a bizarre double-barreled tube, splitting at the tip into two fringed channels that slurp nectar at an almost violent speed—up to 13 licks per second. Despite weighing less than a penny, this hummingbird performs an unusual “wing clap” during aggressive chases, producing a sharp, metallic snap audible from 30 feet away. It also has a peculiar habit of perching on the very tips of thin, swaying bromeliad leaves, which act like natural catapults, flinging it into flight with zero energy waste.
Habitats et répartition
The Black-backed Thornbill is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, where it is restricted to a very small geographical range. It inhabits high-altitude environments, specifically the humid montane forests, elfin forests, and páramo edges found at elevations between 2,700 and 3,700 meters. These habitats are characterized by dense, mossy vegetation, abundant epiphytes, and flowering shrubs like *Befaria* and *Macleania*, which provide essential nectar sources. The species is most common in the transition zone between forest and páramo, often near treeline.
Comportements & Reproduction
The Black-backed Thornbill is generally solitary outside of breeding, with males defending small foraging territories rich in flowering plants. During courtship, males perform aerial displays, rising high and diving while producing mechanical sounds with their tail feathers to attract females. Females alone build a small cup-shaped nest, often attached to a vertical branch or mossy bank, and incubate a clutch of two eggs for about 15–16 days. A unique reproductive strategy is their reliance on high-altitude paramo ecosystems, where they time breeding to coincide with peak nectar availability from specific flowers, ensuring sufficient energy for the demanding chick-rearing period. Males provide no parental care; females feed the nestlings mostly nectar and small arthropods.
Alimentation
The Black-backed Thornbill, a tiny hummingbird endemic to the high-altitude páramos of Colombia, feeds primarily on nectar from a specialized set of flowers, particularly those of the genera *Castilleja*, *Brachyotum*, and *Macleania*. Its long, thin bill is precisely adapted to probe the deep corollas of these tubular blossoms, and it often defends rich feeding territories with aggressive aerial chases. Interestingly, unlike many hummingbirds that supplement their diet with small insects, this species is thought to be almost exclusively nectarivorous, with very little documented arthropod consumption, making its diet one of the most specialized among Andean hummingbirds. To survive the cold nights at elevations over 3,000 meters, it enters a state of torpor, drastically slowing its metabolism to conserve the energy derived from its sugar-rich meals.
Couleurs
The male Black-backed Thornbill has a velvety black back and crown, contrasting sharply with a brilliant violet-blue throat and chest, while the female is duller with pale underparts and green upperparts. Both sexes have a long, slender, decurved black bill and a notched tail; no specific camouflage adaptations are noted beyond the female’s subdued greenish tones blending with foliage.
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