Rufous-shafted Woodstar

En bref

  • Scientific Name: Chaetocercus jourdanii
  • Spanish Name: Colibrí estrella rufo
  • Famille : Trochilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Rufous-shafted Woodstar, Jourdan's Woodstar
  • Average Length: 7–8 cm / 2.8–3.1 in
  • Average Weight: 2.5–3.5 g / 0.09–0.12 oz
  • Wingspan: 11–12 cm / 4.3–4.7 in
  • Key Feature: Rufous shaft streaks on the outer tail feathers and a glittering purple throat in males
  • Primary Diet: Nectarivore (primarily nectar) and occasional small arthropods
  • Range: Northern Colombia, western Venezuela, and adjacent parts of the Andes
  • Habitat: Montane cloud forest edges, secondary growth, and shrubby clearings at 1,200–2,400 m elevation
  • Social Structure: Solitary (except during breeding)
  • Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest built on a horizontal branch or fork, often in shrubs
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The Rufous-shafted Woodstar (*Chaetocercus jourdanii*) is a dazzling, diminutive hummingbird found in the high-altitude cloud forests of Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad. Barely larger than a bumblebee, this iridescent jewel is distinguished by its namesake feature: the male’s wing shafts and tail feathers glow with a rich, coppery-rufous hue, contrasting sharply with its glittering emerald-green back and shimmering violet throat. Females lack the vibrant throat but share the subtle rufous tones on their flanks and wing bases. Specializing in hovering near flowers like *Palicourea* and *Fuchsia*, this woodstar’s unique wing structure produces a soft, insect-like hum in flight, and it is one of the few hummingbirds known to perform a dramatic, high-speed dive display during courtship, ending with a sharp, metallic chirp. Despite its tiny size, it is a resilient specialist of montane ecosystems, playing a vital role as a pollinator in its misty, moss-draped habitat.

Faits amusants

Despite its tiny size—barely 3.5 inches long—the Rufous-shafted Woodstar performs a bizarre courtship display where the male hovers in front of the female while rapidly rotating his body like a spinning top, a behavior known as "shuttle display." It has an exceptionally high wingbeat frequency, up to 80 beats per second, which produces a loud, insect-like buzzing sound that can be mistaken for a large bumblebee. To survive cold Andean nights, it enters a state of torpor, dropping its body temperature dramatically to conserve energy—a rare trait among hummingbirds that makes it appear temporarily lifeless.

Habitats et répartition

The Rufous-shafted Woodstar inhabits montane and submontane forests, often favoring humid cloud forests, forest edges, and adjacent clearings with abundant flowering plants. It is also found in secondary growth and shrubby areas, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 meters. Its geographical range is restricted to the northern Andes, occurring in the Sierra de Perijá and the Mérida Andes of western Venezuela, as well as the Eastern Andes of Colombia, with a small, isolated population also documented in the Santa Marta Mountains of northeastern Colombia.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Rufous-shafted Woodstar is generally solitary outside of the breeding season. Males are highly territorial during mating, performing aerial displays that include rapid dives and a distinctive, buzzing wing sound to attract females. There is no pair bond formed; after a brief courtship, the male departs immediately. The female alone builds a tiny, cup-shaped nest from plant down and spider webs, often camouflaged on a thin branch. She incubates a clutch of two white eggs for approximately 15–17 days. A unique reproductive strategy is the female’s reliance on torpor during incubation to conserve energy, lowering her metabolic rate overnight when temperatures drop, which is critical for survival in high-altitude Andean habitats. The chicks fledge after about 20–24 days, and the female may raise multiple broods in a single season if conditions permit.

Alimentation

The Rufous-shafted Woodstar, a tiny hummingbird found in the Andes, sustains itself almost exclusively on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, favoring those with tubular blossoms that match its long, specialized bill. An interesting fact about its diet is that it is an exceptionally agile and energetic forager, often hovering in place to feed, and it must consume up to half its body weight in nectar daily to fuel its incredibly high metabolism. Additionally, while nectar is its primary energy source, it also supplements its diet by catching small insects and spiders on the wing, which provide essential protein and nutrients, particularly during the breeding season.

Couleurs

The male Rufous-shafted Woodstar has iridescent green upperparts, a glittering violet throat patch, and a white breast band with green flanks, while the female lacks the throat patch, showing white underparts with green spotting. Both sexes display a distinctive rufous shaft and base on the tail feathers, giving a warm, reddish flash in flight. Their small size and muted green-brown tones provide excellent camouflage against foliage.