Family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

Least Concern

Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri)

figure, drawing, illustration of Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri)

Taxonomy

French: Colibri de Burmeister German: Rotbart-Sternkolibri Spanish: Colibrí de Burmeister
Taxonomy:

Chætocercus burmeisteri

P. L. Sclater

, 1888,

Valle del Tafí, Tucumán, Argentina

.

Affinities uncertain. Monotypic.

Distribution:

C & S Bolivia (from SE Cochabamba and W Santa Cruz) to N Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán). Old record from Yungas of La Paz (NW Bolivia).

Descriptive notes

7–9 cm (including tail of c. 3 cm). Male has short, rather straight black bill; upperparts bronzy green; gorget reddish purple, flaring into long moustachial tufts,... read more

Voice

Poorly known. Calls while feeding and hovering include a series of dull “chip” notes, sometimes... read more

Habitat

Shrubby slopes, ravines with vine-tangled thickets, and patches of deciduous woodland at 1100... read more

Food and feeding

Presumably takes insects and nectar from small flowers similar to those visited by Chaetocercus, recorded visiting flowering... read more

Breeding

A nest in Tajira department, Bolivia, had two eggs in Jan and was in the branch of a tree c. 3 m above the ground. Another nest in... read more

Movements

Seasonal altitudinal movements strongly suspected in Bolivia and has even been suggested that... read more

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Generally not uncommon to common, but often overlooked due to its small size and retiring habits. Life history virtually... read more

Recommended citation

Züchner, T., de Juana, E., Boesman, P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Slender-tailed Woodstar (Microstilbon burmeisteri). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/55649 on 9 April 2020).