Tepui Goldenthroat Polytmus milleri Scientific name definitions

The Tepui Goldenthroat is a large hummingbird found in isolated tepui mountains in northern South America.  Though previously thought to be endemic to Venezuela, the species also lives across international borders in both Guyana and Brazil.  Males have a dark gray auricular patch bordered by white, pale green underparts with a red, decurved bill, copper-green upperparts, and white in the base of the green tail.  Females are similar but with duller underparts spotted green and white.  Tepui Goldenthroats frequent savannah habitats where they trap-line flowers and hawk insects instead of simply guarding and feeding upon a single patch of flowers.

11–12 cm (including bill of 2·5 cm); male 4·5–6·1 g (1 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 ), female 4·1–5 g (1 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 ). Male similar to P. guainumbi but no white at eye; long, slightly decurved bill is black; upperparts bronzy green; below glittering green; central pair of rectrices bronze-green above, iridescent green below, all other tail feathers green, broadly white at base, more narrowly tipped white. Female like male but smaller; mainly dull white below, heavily dotted golden-green, densest on breast; more lightly coloured underneath. Juvenile like adult but with buffy fringes to head feathers.

Tepuis in S & SE Venezuela (Duida, Jaua, Auyán-tepui, Ptari-tepui, Cerro Roraima and Serra de Pacaraima); probably also in adjacent Guyana and extreme N Brazil.

A loud series of “tsit” or “tizzie” notes given while foraging (2 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).