Introduction
The Racket-tipped Thorntail (Discosura longicaudus) is a small hummingbird of northern and eastern South America. Formerly known widely as the Racket-tailed Coquette, it is named for the adult male’s distinctive outer tail feathers, which end in broad, dark tips resembling small rackets.
Physical Description
This is a very small hummingbird weighing roughly 3 to 4 grams. Males measure about 10 to 12 centimetres including the elongated tail feathers, while females are shorter, usually about 8 to 10 centimetres.
The adult male has an iridescent green crown and bronzy-green upperparts, with a narrow pale band across the rump. The throat is brilliant emerald green, the lower breast is golden-coppery, and the belly is whitish. The tail is mostly purplish, with the outer pair of feathers greatly elongated and ending in broad, blackish racket-shaped tips.
Females are less ornate. They have a green crown, green upperparts, a blackish throat bordered by pale feathering, a greenish breast and a buffy-white belly. Their tail is shorter and slightly forked, with grey feathers, darker purple markings near the tips and pale outer feather edges. Immature birds resemble females and lack the full tail development and bright plumage of adult males.
Range and Habitat
The Racket-tipped Thorntail has a disjunct distribution. Its larger population extends from southeastern Colombia and western Amazonian Brazil through Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and northern Brazil. A second population occurs in the Atlantic Forest region of north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil, from Rio Grande do Norte southwards towards Rio de Janeiro.
It inhabits humid lowland forest, forest edges, riverine vegetation, secondary growth and, in some parts of its range, scrubby savannah and wooded habitats on sandy soils. Most records are from below approximately 200 to 250 metres, although it has been recorded at higher elevations in Venezuela. It is generally regarded as resident rather than a long-distance migrant, although local movements may follow flowering and food availability.
Where to See This Species
Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Pernambuco, Brazil
A Racket-tipped Thorntail has been documented at the edge of Atlantic Forest in Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos in Recife. The park contains mature forest, wooded trails and flowering vegetation within an accessible urban conservation area. Look carefully around forest edges, gardens and flowering trees, particularly in the brighter parts of the morning.
Nearby accommodation: Recife is the practical base, with hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments and other accommodation in the city and surrounding districts.
Estação Ecológica de Caetés, Pernambuco, Brazil
Racket-tipped Thorntails have been recorded at ESEC Caetés, a protected remnant of Atlantic Forest near Paulista in the Recife metropolitan region. Access is controlled and may require prior permission or participation in an organised educational or research visit. The site’s forest trails and flowering vegetation provide suitable habitat for this small hummingbird.
Nearby accommodation: Paulista, Abreu e Lima and Recife provide hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation, with Recife offering the widest choice of services.
Atta Rainforest Lodge and Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Potaro-Siparuni, Guyana
The species has been recorded around Atta Rainforest Lodge in the Iwokrama rainforest, where forest clearings, flowering plants and nearby trails offer realistic opportunities for observation. The lodge and adjoining canopy-walkway area are established wildlife-viewing venues, and guided birding is the most practical way to search the surrounding rainforest.
Nearby accommodation: On-site rainforest lodge accommodation is available at Atta; Surama and other Iwokrama-area settlements also serve as practical bases for visitors using lodges or organised rainforest tours.
Behaviour and Diet
Racket-tipped Thorntails are active, agile hummingbirds that usually forage alone. Several individuals may gather temporarily where flowering plants are abundant, but they do not form permanent social groups. They hover at flowers and may also perch on exposed twigs or slender branches between feeding bouts.
Their diet consists mainly of nectar from a range of flowering plants. Small insects and spiders are also taken, especially when the birds need additional protein. The short, straight bill is suited to flowers that provide accessible nectar, while rapid wingbeats allow precise hovering in dense vegetation.
Males use their elongated tail feathers during courtship and display flights. The female is responsible for nest construction, incubation and care of the young. The nest is a small cup made from soft plant material and bound with spider silk, usually placed on a thin branch or in sheltered vegetation. Clutches generally contain two white eggs. Reported incubation periods are about two weeks, with young leaving the nest after approximately three weeks, although timing can vary with conditions and locality.
Identification Tips
- Look for a tiny hummingbird with a short, straight black bill and very rapid hovering flight.
- An adult male is unmistakable when seen well: the outer tail feathers are greatly elongated and end in broad, dark racket-shaped tips.
- The male’s emerald-green throat, bronzy-green body, pale rump band and purplish tail are useful supporting features.
- Females and immature birds lack the male’s exaggerated tail. They are recognised by their small size, green upperparts, dark throat, pale belly and slightly forked tail.
- Do not confuse the species with other thorntails or coquettes solely from a distant glimpse. Careful attention to the male’s broad tail tips, or to the female’s compact shape and tail pattern, is important.
- The former name Racket-tailed Coquette remains in use in some field guides and local bird lists.
Conservation Status
The Racket-tipped Thorntail is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A global population estimate is not available in the sources used here.
The species nevertheless depends on the continued protection of forest and woodland habitat. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, logging, urban growth and the degradation of forest edges can reduce feeding and nesting opportunities, particularly in the fragmented Atlantic Forest portion of its range. Maintaining protected areas, retaining flowering vegetation and protecting connected forest remnants are important conservation measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Racket-tipped Thorntail found?
It occurs in northern and eastern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. Its Brazilian distribution includes parts of Amazonia and a separate Atlantic Forest population in the east.
What does a male Racket-tipped Thorntail look like?
The male is a tiny green and bronzy hummingbird with an emerald throat, a pale rump band and elongated outer tail feathers ending in broad, dark racket-shaped tips.
How can a female Racket-tipped Thorntail be identified?
The female is smaller and less colourful than the male. She has green upperparts, a dark throat, a pale buffy belly and a shorter, slightly forked tail without the male’s large racket tips.
What does the Racket-tipped Thorntail eat?
It feeds mainly on flower nectar and supplements this diet with small insects and spiders.
Is the Racket-tipped Thorntail migratory?
It is generally considered resident across its range rather than a long-distance migrant. Local movements may occur when birds follow flowering plants or changes in food availability.
Is the Racket-tipped Thorntail endangered?
No. The species is currently classified as Least Concern, although habitat loss and forest degradation remain important local threats.
References
- BirdLife International
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds of the World
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