Tilmatura dupontii (R.Lesson, 1832)

Scientific Name

The sparkling-tailed woodstar has the scientific name Tilmatura dupontii (R.Lesson, 1832).

Body Length

Males are 8.2 to 10.1 cm (3.2 to 4.0 in) long, while females are 5.8 to 7.5 cm (2.3 to 3.0 in) long.

Average Weight

The average weight of twelve examined specimens is 2.23 g (0.079 oz).

Shared Physical Features

Both sexes share a long, straight, black bill and a large white patch on each side of the rump.

Male Plumage

Males have metallic green upperparts, a grayish white breast, and dark metallic bronze green belly and flanks.

Male Gorget

Their gorget is metallic violet blue.

Male Inner Tail Feathers

The central two pairs of their tail feathers are metallic bronze green.

Male Tail Shape

The outer three pairs are about four times as long as the inner pairs, creating a deeply forked tail.

Male Outer Tail Feathers

These outer feathers are purplish black with white tips, and the outermost two pairs also have a chestnut band and a white band.

Female Plumage

Females have metallic bronze or bronze green upperparts and cinnamon underparts, which are darker on the flanks and lower belly.

Female Tail Shape

Their tail is only slightly forked.

Female Inner Tail Feathers

The central two pairs of female tail feathers are metallic bronze green with black tips.

Female Outer Tail Feathers

The outer three pairs have bronze green bases, a wide black band near the tip, and pale cinnamon or white tips.

Species Distribution

The sparkling-tailed woodstar is distributed discontinuously from Mexico, where it occurs from Sinaloa in the west and Veracruz in the east, through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, and into northern Nicaragua.

Habitat

It inhabits semi-open landscapes including pine-oak forest edges, bushy secondary forest, and scrubby woods.

Elevation Range

It generally occurs at elevations ranging from 750 to 2,500 m (2,500 to 8,200 ft), though it can be found locally or seasonally almost down to sea level.