Friday, 2 January 2026

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Amazilia (for a character in a novel) tzacatl (figure from Aztec myth)

Juvenile Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazilia tzacatl tzacatl
Weight: 5g  /  Length: 9-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and adaptable of Costa Rican hummingbirds, even found in urban streets of the capital where suitable foodsources are available. The female bird is solely responsible for nesting and not only builds the nest but incubates and caring for the chicks on her own. They are believed to actually benefit to some degree from human caused habitat change as they prefer more open spaces. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
SUBSPECIES: A. t. tzacatl, A. t. handleyi, A. t. fuscicaudata, A. t. brehmi, A. t. jucunda

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Amazilia Rabirrufa

A common species in lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela and San Jose 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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