Birds Active during the day

Amazilia Hummingbird

Amazilis amazilia

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering jewel of the Pacific coast, the Amazilia Hummingbird is a bold and feisty resident of South American gardens. Easily recognized by its striking rufous tail, this adaptable bird brings a flash of iridescent green to both wild scrublands and busy city centers.

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Quick Identification

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Size

9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 in) in length; weighs approximately 4-7 g (0.14-0.25 oz)

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Colors

Golden-green upperparts, distinct rufous (reddish-brown) tail, and white to buff underparts; bill is reddish with a black tip.

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Key Features

Distinctive rufous or cinnamon-colored tail
Reddish lower mandible with a dark tip
Golden-green iridescent upperparts
White or pale buff belly depending on the subspecies

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily nectar from tubular flowers such as Justicia, Tecoma, and various garden ornamentals; they also catch small insects and spiders mid-air to meet their protein needs.

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Habitat Common in arid scrub, desert oases, suburban gardens, parks, and agricultural edges.

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Where Does the Amazilia Hummingbird Live?

The Amazilia Hummingbird is a characteristic resident of the South American Pacific coast. Its native range stretches from western Ecuador through the arid coastal regions and Andean foothills of Peru. Because it adapts so well to human-modified landscapes, it is a frequent sight in major metropolitan areas like Lima, thriving wherever flowering gardens and parks provide a reliable source of nectar.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

450K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

PE Peru

Marginal

EC Ecuador

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Amazilia Hummingbird is a feisty and highly territorial bird, often seen aggressively defending its favorite nectar sources from other hummingbirds and even larger bird species. They are conspicuous and relatively bold, making them one of the most visible hummingbirds in urban environments.

During the day, they follow a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a specific circuit of flowering plants, or they may choose to guard a high-reward patch of flowers. When not feeding, they often perch on thin, exposed branches to survey their territory, occasionally performing rapid preening sessions to keep their flight feathers in top condition.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best images of the Amazilia Hummingbird, focus your camera on high-reward nectar sources like red or orange tubular flowers. Because this species is highly territorial, it will likely have a favorite 'sentinel' perch nearby—usually a bare, thin twig with a clear view of the flowers. Positioning your camera to face this perch will yield much clearer, still photos than trying to catch them mid-flight.

For action shots, set your AI camera to a high trigger speed. These birds are extremely fast, and even a slight delay can result in a frame containing nothing but a blurred tail. Ensure the area is bathed in bright, direct sunlight; this not only allows for faster shutter speeds but also highlights the brilliant iridescence of their golden-green feathers and the rich tones of their rufous tail.

If you are using a backyard feeder to attract them, place the camera at a 45-degree angle to the feeder rather than head-on. This perspective captures the bird’s profile, including the distinctive reddish bill and the contrast between the green back and pale belly. Early morning is the best time for filming, as they are most active when flowers first replenish their nectar levels.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Amazilia Hummingbird.

Tumbes Hummingbird

Lacks the bright rufous tail of the Amazilia and has a much duller, greyish-white throat and breast.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Found further north in Colombia and Central America; it has a much greener throat and a more extensively red bill.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Amazilia Hummingbird is most active in the early morning hours just after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk, when they feed heavily to maintain their high metabolism.

You can attract them by planting native tubular flowers like Tecoma or Hibiscus. They also readily visit hummingbird feeders filled with a mixture of four parts water to one part white granulated sugar.

Their diet consists mainly of floral nectar for energy, but they also hunt for small gnats, flies, and spiders to obtain essential protein.

Yes, they are exceptionally adaptable and are one of the most common bird species found in the parks and suburban gardens of coastal Peru and Ecuador.

The key is the tail; look for the bright rufous or chestnut-colored tail feathers combined with a reddish bill that has a black tip. Most other hummingbirds in its range have dark or green tails.

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