Racket-tipped Thorntail Discosura longicaudus Scientific name definitions

Once sharing the genus with several other species, the Racket-tailed Coquette is now frequently classified as the only species remaining in the genus Discosura. It often feeds in the canopy of mass-flowering trees and steals nectar from the territories of large hummingbirds. Consequently, large species often chase after Racket-tailed Coquettes. The elegant black rackets on the male’s long outer most tail feathers and the buffy band across the rump of both sexes help readily identify this hummingbird. Although threatened by deforestation and considered rare throughout its range, this species is not currently listed as globally threatened. Its favors riparian areas of humid forests and scrubby savannahs but much of its range is unprotected; this is particularly concerning since these hummingbirds do not adapt to areas which have been disturbed by humans.

Male c. 10 cm (including long tail), female c. 7·8 cm; 3–3·7 g. Male has short straight black bill  ; crown iridescent green, rest of upperparts bronzy green with buffy-white band across rump  ; throat glittering emerald-green, lower breast golden-coppery  , belly whitish; tail long, forked, purplish, outer pair of rectrices terminating in a blackish racquet  . Female upperparts similar to male, lacks iridescent parts; throat black, laterally bordered white  , breast green, belly buffy white  ; tail moderately long, slightly forked, grey, subterminal bar dark purple, outer rectrices tipped white  . Juvenile resembles adult female.

SE Colombia, S & E Venezuela (Amazonas, E Bolívar) and the Guianas to NC Brazil (N Amazonas E to Amapá); also NE Brazil (Rio Grande do Norte S to Rio de Janeiro).

Humid forest along rivers up to 200 m altitude and scrubby savanna, but has been recorded much higher on Sierra de Lema (1 Hilty, S. L. (1999). Three bird species new to Venezuela and notes on the behaviour and distribution of other poorly known species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 119(4):220–235. Close ) and to c. 910 in S Gran Sabana (SE Venezuela) (2 Crease, A. (2009). Avian range extensions from the southern headwaters of the río Caroní, Gran Sabana, Bolívar, Venezuela. Cotinga 31:5–19. Close ). Forages mainly in canopy.

Feeds on nectar  of flowering Anacardium (Anacardiaceae), Caesalpinoidae dicymbe (Fabaceae) (2 Crease, A. (2009). Avian range extensions from the southern headwaters of the río Caroní, Gran Sabana, Bolívar, Venezuela. Cotinga 31:5–19. Close ), Calliandra (Fabaceae), Inga (Fabaceae), introduced Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), Leonotis (Lamiaceae), Leonurus (Lamiaceae), Loranthaceaea, Tachigalia  (Fabaceae), Vochysiaceae, Verbenaceae. Arthropods are gleaned from foliage and spiders’ webs.

No information.

No information on season. Nest cup-shaped, made out of soft plant material, lined with Typha seed down, fibres of Bromeliaceae and Gramineae; placed 3–6 m above ground on horizontal branch. Clutch size two eggs; incubation 13–14 days, by female; fledging period 20–22 days.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Rare throughout range, being, for example, known from just five localities in S Venezuela (1 Hilty, S. L. (1999). Three bird species new to Venezuela and notes on the behaviour and distribution of other poorly known species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 119(4):220–235. Close ). Affected by extensive deforestation in many parts of range, most of which is unprotected; however, species occurs in some protected areas such as Imataca Forest Reserve, Bolívar (Venezuela), and Monte Pascoal National Park, Bahia (Brazil). Does not adapt to man-modified habitats.