Copper-rumped Hummingbird Saucerottia tobaci Scientific name definitions

This excessively aggressive hummingbird is found almost anywhere where there are flowers. The Copper-rumped Hummingbird inhabits parks, gardens, all types of forest, humid forest edges, coffee plantations, residential areas, and in Trinidad and Tobago, they even frequent urban areas. The island subspecies also reside in open areas with plants similar to those found in savannas. In the Coastal Cordillera of Venezuela, the Copper-rumped is the most common hummer sighted around gardens, hotels, or residences. It is very territorial and sometimes even outcompetes larger hummingbirds or goes after bees and wasps. While it might be confused with the Steely-vented Hummingbird (Saucerottia saucerrottei), the Copper-rumped Hummingbird has reddish brown under the tail instead of steel blue

9–11 cm; male 4·6–4·7 g (1 Collins, C. T. (1972). Weights of some birds of north-central Venezuela. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 92(6):151–153. Close ), female 3·5–4·2 g (2 Lentino, M., L. Pérez, G. Barrowclough, and P. Sweet (1998). Notas sobre las aves de la cima del Auyantepuy, Parque Nacional Canaima, estado Bolívar, Venezuela. Acta Terramaris 11:1–12. Close ), unsexed 3·5–4·5 g (3 Junge, G. C. A., and G. F. Mees (1958). The avifauna of Trinidad and Tobago. Zoologische Verhandelingen 37(1):1–172. Close ). Male has straight, medium-sized, blackish bill, except pinkish base to mandible; upperparts bronze-green; underparts glittering dark golden-green; uppertail-coverts purple-red; undertail-coverts reddish brown; rectrices purplish-black. Female similar but coloration of back normally less intense; whitish on chin and upper throat. Juvenile has throat and belly partially greyish brown. Other races differ morphometrically from nominate, which is by far the largest; erythronotos slightly darker below, with centres of uppertail-coverts dark purplish; monticola is generally darker, less contrasted, with rectrices steel-blue to violet-blue, undertail-coverts reddish brown; feliciae has back more glittering golden to bronze-green, tail bluish black, undertail-coverts reddish brown; caudata has tail dark blue, aliciae has more copper in upperparts and tail blue-black, both with undertail-coverts cinnamon-rufous; caurensis is greyer on rump and uppertail-coverts, tail less bifurcated, dark purplish, undertail-coverts bluish black.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Inhabits nearly all types of forest, including gallery forest, cloudforest and rainforest, and also second growth and clearings; island races erythronotos and tobaci also occur in open country with savanna-like vegetation, plantations and gardens. Ranges mainly between sea-level and 1000 m; some mainland races like monticola and feliciae reach 1500–2000 m. In contrast to other island races, aliciae of Margarita I seems to prefer mountainous areas.

Insular races generally sedentary, though claimed record from Grenada could refer to a vagrant; some birds of mainland races perform local movements.

Feeds mainly on nectar of a great variety of plants; more than 40 species of trees, particularly Erythrina and Calliandra, shrubs (Palicourea), vines (Gurania), herbs (Pachystachys coccinea) (3 Junge, G. C. A., and G. F. Mees (1958). The avifauna of Trinidad and Tobago. Zoologische Verhandelingen 37(1):1–172. Close ) and various introduced plants (Beloperone guttata (3 Junge, G. C. A., and G. F. Mees (1958). The avifauna of Trinidad and Tobago. Zoologische Verhandelingen 37(1):1–172. Close ), Hibiscus, Russelia) were recorded for Trinidad and Tobago. Forages for insects in vegetation, or hawks over fallen fruits for small flies. Extremely territorial; dominates other hummingbirds, even larger species. Attacks any intruders within the feeding area, either directly or sometimes in pendulum-like flight if intruder perched. Insects are caught in the air by hawking.

Song a repeated phrase of three buzzy or squeaky, well-spaced notes “tee-dee-dew” or “tee-dzee-djit”, the last note lower-pitched. Calls include high-pitched descending rattles while foraging.

Poorly known in mainland races. On Trinidad, breeding recorded from all months except Sept–Oct, with main season Jan–Mar. On Tobago, nesting noted Nov–Jun. Saddle-type nest, usually placed in fork or on branch of small tree or bush, 1–3 m above ground, sometimes up to 6 m; nests occasionally found on wires, clothes-lines(!), etc. Cup is made of silky plant down, sometimes with coconut fibres or scales of fern fronds, decorated with pieces of lichen and cobweb. Clutch two white eggs; incubation 16–19 days, by female; fledging period 19–23 days. 2–3 broods per season, at intervals of c. 1 week to one month.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Common to very common on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, where frequently found even in urban areas. Race feliciae represents the commonest of the mainland races, occurring in city parks in Caracas, etc. Race caudata also common, frequently occurring in gardens and other man-made habitats. Distribution of other Venezuelan races, caurensis for example, appears more scattered, possibly due in part to a lack of collecting sites.