Short-tailed emerald facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Short-tailed emerald
Male in Arcabuco, Boyacá, Colombia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Chlorostilbon
Species:	C. poortmani
Binomial name
Chlorostilbon poortmani (Bourcier, 1843)
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The short-tailed emerald (Chlorostilbon poortmani) is a small, colorful species of hummingbird. It belongs to a group of hummingbirds known as "emeralds." You can find this bird in Colombia and Venezuela. Sometimes, people also call it Poortman's emerald hummingbird.

About the Short-tailed Emerald

Scientists study how living things are related. They recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the short-tailed emerald. These are C. p. poortmani and C. p. euchloris. However, some groups, like BirdLife International, think there might be a third type. They consider the green-tailed emerald (C. alice) to be another subspecies of the short-tailed emerald. Other experts believe the green-tailed emerald is its own separate species.

The scientific name for this bird was given by a French naturalist named Jules Bourcier. He was an expert on hummingbirds.

What Does It Look Like?

Male short-tailed emeralds are about 6.9 to 8.5 cm (2.7 to 3.3 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, from 6.5 to 7.5 cm (2.6 to 3.0 inches). These tiny birds weigh between 3 and 4 grams (0.11 to 0.14 ounces). Both male and female birds have a straight, black beak.

Males of the main subspecies have a shiny green forehead. Their head, back, and upper tail feathers are a bronze-green color. Their belly and chest are a bright, sparkling green. Their tail is short and forked, and it shines with a bronze-green color.

Female short-tailed emeralds have a duller green forehead. Their head, back, and upper tail feathers are a dull bronze-green. Their underparts are gray. Like the males, their tail is short and forked. The two middle tail feathers are green. The other tail feathers are dark blue at the ends with pale gray tips.

The subspecies C. p. euchloris looks very similar to the main type. However, it is slightly larger. It also has a golden shine on its head and underparts.

The short-tailed emerald looks a lot like other hummingbirds in its group. Some other species also have short tails, like the green-tailed emerald. Female short-tailed emeralds look similar to females of the coppery emerald and narrow-tailed emerald. But those other species do not have blue in their tails.

Where Does It Live?

The main subspecies of the short-tailed emerald lives in the Andes mountains. You can find it from western Venezuela to the eastern side of Colombia's Andes. The C. p. euchloris subspecies lives in the eastern Andes of Colombia.

These hummingbirds live inside and at the edges of humid forests. They also like open woodlands and forests that are growing back after being cut down. You can even find them in places changed by humans, like coffee and banana farms. They also live in pastures with trees, especially near streams.

They usually live at elevations between 750 and 2,200 meters (2,460 and 7,200 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, they are seen as low as 150 meters (490 feet) or as high as 2,800 meters (9,200 feet).

Behavior and Habits

Flight Style

The short-tailed emerald has a special way of flying. It moves in a weaving, floating motion. This is different from how other hummingbirds in its group fly.

Movement and Migration

Generally, these hummingbirds stay in one place. They do not travel far. However, finding them at very low or very high elevations might mean they move up and down mountains depending on the season.

What Do They Eat?

The short-tailed emerald eats nectar from flowers. It uses different ways to find food. Sometimes, it visits many low-quality flower sources in a path, which is called trap-lining. Other times, it "steals" nectar from richer flowers in areas that other hummingbirds are protecting. Male hummingbirds sometimes protect areas with lots of nectar.

These birds usually look for food low down in plants, about 0.6 to 5 meters (2 to 16 feet) above the ground. They prefer open areas like roadsides, clearings, and coffee farms. They get nectar from many kinds of flowering plants, bushes, and small trees. They usually avoid large flowering trees. Besides nectar, they also eat small insects. They catch these insects by flying out from a perch, which is called hawking.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The short-tailed emerald seems to lay eggs in May and June on the eastern side of the Colombian Andes. On the western side, they might start breeding as early as February.

They build a cup-shaped nest from soft materials. They use things like leaf pieces, moss, and plant scales. They usually place their nest on thin branches, about 1 meter (3.3 feet) above the ground. The female bird sits on the two eggs for 14 to 16 days. The young birds leave the nest 20 to 22 days after hatching.

Vocalizations

The song of the short-tailed emerald is thought to be a long series of high-pitched "tseep" notes. They seem to sing this song mostly during the wet season. They also make short "tsip" calls and longer, sad-sounding "tsew...tsew.." calls.

In Art

An English bird expert named John Gould drew the Poortman's emerald hummingbird in 1860. His drawing shows the bird near Bogotá, Colombia. In the background, there is a Victoria water lily in a lake. People have said that choosing this plant was "one of the most striking examples of a plant chosen for its fame and beauty rather than its appropriateness."

Conservation Status

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) considers the short-tailed emerald to be of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. However, we do not know the exact number of these birds or if their population is growing or shrinking. These birds can live in places changed by humans, like gardens and farms, as long as there are still bushes and trees around.