Image via Macaulay Library
Short-tailed Emerald
- Scientific name
- Chlorostilbon poortmani
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Forest deciduous
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Short
Where it came from
The Short-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon poortmani) was formally described by the ornithologist Jules Bourcier in 1843. It belongs to the broader emerald genus, a group of hummingbirds characterized by their striking metallic green plumage and precise, rapid flight patterns, which evolved specifically for foraging among the dense, nectar-rich flora of the Andes.
The taxonomy of this species reflects the mid-19th-century scientific movement to categorize the avian biodiversity of South America. It is named in honor of the Dutch naturalist Poortman, who collected specimens during exploration expeditions in the region. The species is visually distinguished by its compact profile, specifically its eponymous short, square-cut tail and pointed wings, which serve as essential adaptations for navigating the humid, high-altitude shrublands of its native range.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Short-tailed Emerald
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