Beija-flor-tesoura (Swallow-tailed Hummingbird)

Description:

Hummingbirds are undoubtedly one of the most typical bird groups in the Americas, with its iridescent colors, extraordinary speed, ability to hover in the air and reduced size. The Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is perhaps the most famous member of this group, at least in the non-Amazonian Brazil, probably due to its abundance in urbanized locations, the beauty of its color, the easily recognizable scissors-tail and especially by his abused behavior as it is one of the largest and most quarrelsome hummingbirds. It is also known as Scissorstail hummingbird. It measures between 15 and 19 centimeters in length, one of the largest Brazilian hummingbirds, weighing about 9 grams. Head, neck and upper chest of a deep violet blue; rest of plumage iridescent dark green. Small white spot behind the eyes; dark brown pinions; outer primary raquis extended, although far less evident that the species of the genus Campylopterus; dark blue tail; white shorts; slightly curved down and black beak. Its main characteristic is the long and deeply forked tail that takes almost 2/3 of its total size. Occasionally it has the bluish white feathers dyed forehead, yellow or of different colors, due to the buildup from pollen of the flowers pollinated. The female is almost equal to the male being slightly smaller and paler. Immature is like the female, but the head is particularly paler and dyed brown.

Habitat:

Lives in semi open areas, edges of forests, barns, parks and gardens, it is common even in large cities.