Mexican Sheartail

Common name: Mexican Sheartail
Scientific name: Doricha eliza
Clades: Mellisugini - Bees

The Mexican Sheartail is a captivating hummingbird known for its vibrant coloration and the distinctive characteristics that set it apart from its relatives. Males exhibit a striking iridescence, featuring a combination of emerald green and ruby red, while females possess a more subdued but equally attractive plumage with hints of green and brown.

This species thrives in various habitats, ranging from open woodlands to gardens filled with flowering plants, where it can easily access its primary diet of nectar and insects. The Mexican Sheartail is a skilled flier, often engaging in acrobatic displays as it darts between blossoms and hovers effortlessly to feed.

Breeding behavior in the Mexican Sheartail is notable for its monogamous tendencies, with pairs forming bonds that may last through multiple nesting seasons. Females build cup-shaped nests, typically constructed using plant materials, spider silk, and other soft elements to create a secure environment for their eggs.

The Mexican Sheartail's vocalizations also contribute to its charm. While not as elaborate as some other species, their soft and delicate chirps can often be heard during mating displays or territorial disputes, adding an auditory dimension to their visual beauty. Observing the Mexican Sheartail in its natural habitat offers a rewarding experience for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, showcasing the intricate balance of beauty and behavior in the avian world.

Adult male: Upperparts exhibit a metallic bronze or bronze-green hue, appearing duller on the crown, which may sometimes present a brownish-gray forecrown. The tail is notably deeply forked. The three outer pairs of rectrices are colored in purplish bronzy black, with the inner web of the second and third pair prominently edged in light cinnamon. The remiges are a deep brownish gray, displaying a very faint gloss with a purplish tint. The gorget on the chin and throat shines in bright metallic pinkish purple, with violet tinges towards the sides and bottom. The breast is white, while the center of the belly and the undertail coverts are dull white, with the undertail coverts (and occasionally the belly) exhibiting a hint of cinnamon buff. The flanks are broadly metallic bronze or green, and the tibial tufts are white.

Adult female: Upperparts similar to those of the male. The three outer pairs of rectrices have a light cinnamon-rufous coloration at the base; the two outermost pairs are broadly tipped in white, featuring a prominent black subterminal band, while the third pair has a terminal half that is black (often with a narrow white tip). The second and third pairs also exhibit metallic bronze-green between the cinnamon rufous base and the black subterminal band. The underparts appear dull grayish white, with varying degrees of brownish buffy tinges, particularly noticeable on the flanks and undertail coverts. The flanks exhibit a broad gloss of metallic bronze or bronze green.