Introduction
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat (Polytmus theresiae) is a small hummingbird of northern South America. It belongs to the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, and is associated particularly with Amazonian white-sand habitats, open woodland, savannas and forest edges. The species is resident rather than known for long-distance migration, although local movements may occur as flowering conditions change.
Physical Description
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is a small to medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 9–10 cm in length. Adults are predominantly bronzy green above, with a green tail and a small white spot behind the eye. The underparts may show pale golden-green tones, especially on the throat and chest.
Females are generally duller and more strongly marked below than males. They often have pale underparts with conspicuous green spotting or scaling on the throat, breast and sides. The bill is slender and slightly down-curved, suited to nectar feeding. Juveniles are less vividly coloured than adults and may show a less clearly defined pattern on the underparts.
Range and Habitat
The species occurs across parts of the Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield, including Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru and Bolivia. Some distribution accounts also mention possible or local records in Ecuador. Two subspecies are generally recognised, with the nominate form occupying the Guianas and northern Brazil, and P. t. leucorrhous occurring farther west and south in the western Amazon.
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is most often associated with lowland habitats, generally around 100–300 m above sea level. It uses sandy savannas, campina and campinarana vegetation, riverine shrubland, seasonally wet grassland, forest margins and some secondary growth. It is not primarily a bird of dense, closed-canopy rainforest. White-sand vegetation is especially important in parts of its range because it supports the low, open plant communities in which the species often forages.
Where to See This Species
Viruá National Park, Roraima, Brazil
Viruá National Park protects extensive campina and campinarana habitats, and the Green-tailed Goldenthroat is documented there as a bird associated with these white-sand vegetation communities. Open tracks and shrub-covered areas are more promising than deep forest, particularly where flowering plants are present. Access arrangements and local conditions should be checked with the park authorities before travelling.
Nearby accommodation: Caracaraí is the practical gateway, with local guest houses and hotels, while camping may be possible in designated areas subject to park regulations.
Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, Loreto, Peru
This reserve near Iquitos protects rare white-sand forests and black-water floodplain habitats. Ornithological surveys have documented the Green-tailed Goldenthroat in the wider white-sand forest landscape, making the reserve a realistic location for searching suitable scrub, forest edges and low vegetation. The species may be local, so guided visits and careful attention to habitat are advisable.
Nearby accommodation: Iquitos is the main gateway, offering hotels, guest houses, rainforest lodges and organised excursions into the reserve.
Behaviour and Diet
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is active during the day and usually forages in open or semi-open vegetation rather than deep forest. Like other hummingbirds, it can hover while taking nectar and may defend productive flowers or small feeding areas from competitors. It is often seen singly, although several individuals may gather where flowering plants are abundant.
Nectar forms the main part of its diet. The bird also takes small insects and other arthropods, which provide protein and other nutrients. By visiting flowers, it contributes to the pollination of plants in its habitat, although the importance of this service varies according to local plant communities.
Breeding information for this species is limited. Available records indicate a clutch of two eggs. The female builds and attends the nest, which is placed in a sheltered fork or small shrub and made from fine plant material bound with spider web. As in other hummingbirds, the young hatch in an undeveloped condition and depend heavily on the female for warmth and food.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, mainly green hummingbird with a green tail and a neat white spot behind the eye.
- Search open sandy savannas, campina, campinarana, riverine scrub and forest edges rather than dense rainforest interiors.
- Adult males usually appear more uniformly green and brighter below, while females show paler underparts with stronger green spotting.
- The slightly down-curved bill and compact, agile flight are useful supporting features.
- Do not confuse it with the White-tailed Goldenthroat, which has obvious white markings in the tail. The Green-tailed Goldenthroat normally appears green-tailed and lacks that broad white tail pattern.
Conservation Status
The Green-tailed Goldenthroat is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A precise global population estimate is not available, and the species may be locally uncommon where its specialised habitats are scarce.
The main potential pressures are the conversion and fragmentation of white-sand vegetation, forest clearance, agricultural expansion, mining, infrastructure development and altered fire regimes. Protecting campina and campinarana patches, maintaining habitat connectivity and managing fire carefully are important conservation measures. More surveys would help clarify local population trends and the species’ response to habitat change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can the Green-tailed Goldenthroat be found?
It occurs in northern and western South America, including the Amazon Basin and Guiana Shield. Countries within its documented range include Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru and Bolivia.
What habitat does the Green-tailed Goldenthroat prefer?
It favours lowland open habitats such as white-sand savannas, campina, campinarana, riverine shrubland, forest edges and some secondary vegetation. It is less strongly associated with dense, closed-canopy rainforest.
What does the Green-tailed Goldenthroat eat?
Its diet consists mainly of nectar, supplemented by small insects and other arthropods. Nectar provides energy, while animal prey supplies protein and other nutrients.
How can the Green-tailed Goldenthroat be identified?
Look for a small green hummingbird with a green tail, a small white spot behind the eye and a slightly down-curved bill. Females usually have paler underparts with conspicuous green spotting.
Is the Green-tailed Goldenthroat migratory?
It is generally regarded as a resident species rather than a long-distance migrant. Local movements may occur in response to flowering conditions, water levels or changes in the availability of suitable vegetation.
Is the Green-tailed Goldenthroat endangered?
No. It is currently listed as Least Concern, although habitat loss and degradation can threaten local populations, especially where white-sand habitats are isolated or heavily disturbed.
References
- BirdLife International
- IOC World Bird List
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade
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