Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae)

Identification & Behavior: ~10.5 cm (4.1 in). The male Neblina Metaltail is mostly bronzy-green with a bronzy iridescent gorget. The tail is green. The female is also bronzy-green above and a checkered coppery and whitish throat, breasts, and part of the belly. The tail in the female is dusky with whitish tips on the outer tail feathers.   Both sexes have a notched tail. The bill is relatively short, black and straight. It resembles a Fire-throated Metaltail, but their ranges do not overlap.

Status: The Neblina Metaltail is uncommon at humid forest edges and associated shrubbery on the east slope in far northern Peru. It ranges at elevations between 2600-3000 m in northern Peru and adjacent Ecuador.

Name in Spanish: Colibrí de Neblina.

Sub-species: Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae), Graves, 1980.

Meaning of Name: Metallura:  Gr. Metallon=  metal and oura=  tail. odomae: In honor of Babette Moore Odom (1911-1984) US businesswoman, conservationist, sponsor of field programmes in Peru.

See more of the Family Trochilidae