<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360590'>Gilded Hummingbird

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Hylocharis chrysura
  • Spanish Name: Colibrí chispita
  • Famille : Trochilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Golden-tailed Hummingbird, Gilded Sapphire
  • Longueur moyenne : 9 à 11 cm / 3,5 à 4,3 pouces
  • Average Weight: 4–5 g / 0.14–0.18 oz
  • Wingspan: 11–13 cm / 4.3–5.1 in
  • Key Feature: Iridescent bronze-green upperparts and a coppery-golden rump and tail
  • Primary Diet: Nectarivore (primarily nectar, also small insects and spiders)
  • Range: Central and eastern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina
  • Habitat: Dry to humid forests, savannas, cerrado, and gallery forests
  • Social Structure: Solitary or territorial; may gather at rich nectar sources
  • Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest on a tree branch, often concealed with lichen and spider silk
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The Gilded Hummingbird (Hylocharis chrysura) is a dazzling jewel of South America’s forests and woodlands, most notably found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. Its most striking feature is the male’s brilliant, burnished golden-bronze tail and lower back, which shimmers like polished metal in the sunlight, contrasting sharply with its emerald-green body and a vibrant, deep-red bill tipped in black. Unique among its relatives, this species exhibits a specialized, slightly decurved bill perfectly adapted for sipping nectar from tubular flowers, while its forked tail and rapid, agile flight allow it to hover with pinpoint precision. A special characteristic is its iridescent throat patch, or gorget, which can flash from fiery orange to deep copper depending on the light, making this tiny, fast-moving bird a living, flying gem that captivates any observer lucky enough to glimpse its metallic shimmer.

Faits amusants

Despite its dazzling golden-green plumage, the Gilded Hummingbird has a peculiar habit of briefly entering a state of torpor on cold nights, dropping its body temperature by over 20°C to conserve energy—a miniature, feathered hibernation. Its tongue is not a simple straw but a forked, fringed tube that flicks in and out at up to 13 times per second, using a capillary action to lap up nectar rather than sucking it. Perhaps quirkiest of all, males perform a high-speed U-shaped dive during courtship, producing a sharp, metallic *zing* from their tail feathers, a sound specifically designed to stun females into noticing them.

Habitats et répartition

The Gilded Hummingbird inhabits a variety of semi-open and edge habitats, including dry forests, savannas, gallery forests along rivers, and regions of dense scrub known as *cerrado*. It is also commonly found in secondary growth, plantations, and urban gardens, showing a preference for areas with abundant flowering plants. Its geographical range is centered in central and southern Brazil, extending into eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina, where it occupies lowland and foothill regions up to around 1,500 meters in elevation.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Gilded Hummingbird is largely solitary outside of breeding, with males defending flower-rich territories. Mating involves a brief, aerial courtship display where the male performs a series of U-shaped dives and chatters to attract a female. There is no pair bond; the male departs immediately after copulation, leaving all parental duties to the female. She builds a small, cup-shaped nest from plant down and spider webs, typically on a slender branch. The female lays two white eggs and incubates them alone for 15–19 days, then feeds the chicks regurgitated nectar and insects. A unique strategy is her ability to slow her chicks’ metabolic rate during cooler nights, reducing their energy needs until she can feed them at dawn.

Alimentation

The Gilded Hummingbird (Hylocharis chrysura) is a nectar specialist, feeding primarily on the sugary liquid from a variety of flowering plants, with a strong preference for tubular blossoms that match the length of its bill. It is an important pollinator for many Neotropical species, such as bromeliads and passionflowers. Interestingly, while nectar provides most of its energy, this hummingbird supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, which it catches in flight or gleans from foliage. This protein source is crucial for growth, feather production, and especially for females during the breeding season when they need extra nutrients to lay eggs. Its high metabolism forces it to consume nearly half its body weight in sugar daily, visiting hundreds of flowers each day to sustain its rapid wingbeats and hovering flight.

Couleurs

The Gilded Hummingbird is predominantly metallic golden-bronze or coppery-green on its upperparts, with a brilliant, glittering golden-bronze throat and chest that transitions to a duller greenish-bronze on the belly. Its long, slightly decurved bill and forked tail are dark, with the tail feathers showing a purplish-bronze sheen. It lacks bold white markings or streaks, instead relying on its iridescent, shimmering plumage that can appear dark or burnished depending on light, offering camouflage against sun-dappled foliage.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.