Birds Active during the day

Red-billed Emerald

Chlorostilbon gibsoni

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering jewel of the northern Andes, the Red-billed Emerald is a tiny powerhouse with a vibrant crimson beak and a bold, territorial spirit.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 in) in length; weighs approximately 2.5-4 grams (0.09-0.14 oz)

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Colors

Males are glittering golden-green with a bright red bill tipped in black; females have metallic green upperparts with pale grey to white underparts and a dark ear patch.

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Key Features

Bright red bill with a small black tip
Glittering golden-green plumage in males
Deeply forked blue-black tail
White spot behind the eye

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily nectar from a variety of flowering shrubs and trees; also consumes small insects and spiders caught in flight or gleaned from leaves for protein.

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Habitat Arid to semi-arid scrub, deciduous forests, forest edges, plantations, and suburban gardens.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Red-billed Emerald Live?

Native to the northern reaches of South America, the Red-billed Emerald is a jewel of the dry lowlands and Andean slopes. Its core range spans the arid scrublands and forest edges of northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, particularly within the Magdalena and Cauca river valleys. This species thrives in open landscapes, making it a common sight in areas where dense forest gives way to agricultural land or residential gardens.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

165K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CO Colombia

239

VE Venezuela

13

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 2,300 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

252 observations

93 research grade

2 countries

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Behavior

The Red-billed Emerald is a highly energetic and territorial hummingbird known for its feisty personality. Despite its small size, it will aggressively defend its favorite nectar sources from much larger birds, using sharp, chattering calls and rapid diving maneuvers to chase intruders away. They are often seen hovering with precision, their wings moving so fast they become a transparent blur, before darting away in a flash of green light.

These birds are mostly solitary outside of the breeding season. They exhibit a 'traplining' foraging strategy, where they follow a regular route to visit specific flowering plants throughout the day. In backyard settings, they quickly become accustomed to human presence, especially if a reliable nectar source is provided, and may even hover close to people to investigate new objects in their territory.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Red-billed Emerald on an AI-powered camera, placement is everything. Position your camera approximately 3 to 5 feet away from a hummingbird feeder or a cluster of tubular red or orange flowers. Because these birds are incredibly fast, set your camera to its highest possible frame rate or use a 'burst' photo mode. If your camera supports it, enable 'AI Bird Detection' to ensure the shutter triggers the moment the bird enters the frame.

Lighting is the secret to revealing this bird's true beauty. Hummingbird feathers are iridescent, meaning they rely on light refraction to show color. Position your camera so the sun is behind the lens, shining directly onto the bird's chest. This will make the 'emerald' plumage glow and ensure the red bill is clearly visible. Avoid placing the camera where the bird will be backlit, as this will turn the bird into a dark silhouette.

If you are using a trail camera in a garden, try to mount it at eye level (about 4-5 feet high). Using a small tripod or a flexible clamp on a nearby branch works well. Since Red-billed Emeralds are territorial, if you see one visiting a specific flower, it is highly likely to return to that exact spot every 20-30 minutes, giving you multiple chances to refine your camera settings and capture the perfect shot.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-billed Emerald.

Blue-tailed Emerald

Has an almost entirely black bill compared to the bright red bill of the Red-billed Emerald.

Glittering-throated Emerald

Lacks the deeply forked tail and has a white patch on the lower belly.

Copper-rumped Hummingbird

Distinguished by its distinct coppery-brown lower back and rump.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon when nectar production is high, though they will forage throughout the day to maintain their high metabolism.

Plant native tubular flowers like Hibiscus or Salvia, and hang a hummingbird feeder filled with a 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio solution. They prefer gardens with some perching spots like thin twigs.

Their diet consists mostly of floral nectar for energy and small insects like gnats and fruit flies for essential proteins and minerals.

Yes, they are very adaptable and are frequently found in parks, gardens, and agricultural areas within their native range in Colombia and Venezuela.

The most obvious difference is the bill; the Red-billed Emerald has a bright rosy-red bill with a black tip, whereas the Blue-tailed Emerald has an almost entirely black bill.

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