Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

The most common and visible hummingbird in Panama. With its metallic green flash and reddish tail, it visits gardens and flowers with a characteristic buzz announcing its presence before being seen.

Amazilia tzacatl, the rufous-tailed hummingbird, is the most common and widely distributed hummingbird in Panama. Medium-sized (10 cm), its plumage is bright green on the back, with pale green chest and belly, and its characteristic rufous (reddish) tail. Its bill is mostly red with a black tip. Like all hummingbirds, it can beat its wings up to 80 times per second, allowing it to hover while sipping nectar. It is territorial and aggressively defends its food sources. Panama hosts 61 hummingbird species, of which this is the most frequent.

Habitat

Gardens, forest edges, and open areas throughout Panama