Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura)

Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (6.6 in). The Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is mostly green with a blue head and iridescent blue on the throat and breast. The tail is blue and deeply forked. Both sexes have similar plumages, but the male has more saturated colors. The larger size and deeply forked tail are unmistakable. It favors forest edges and semi-open habitats.

Status: The Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is uncommon an local. It is only known from the dry Urubamba Valley where it ranges at elevations between 1000-1500 m. The Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is also reported from Pampas del Heath in extreme southeast Peru. It also occurs in Br and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Colibrí de Cola Ahorquillada.

Sub-species: Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura hirundo), Gould, 1875.

Meaning of Name: Eupetomena: Gr.  Eu= fine, good and petomenos= ever on the wing. macroura: Gr makros= long and ouros,  oura= tailed, tail.

See more of the Family Trochilidae