Rumbito Chico
Little Woodstar
Chaetocercus bombus
Song
Little Woodstar
Appearance: The Little Woodstar is a tiny hummingbird, one of the very small “bee hummingbirds.” The male is green above, pale below, with a short bill, white flank patches, and a small forked tail. Males show a glittering throat patch, often purplish or pinkish depending on light. The female lacks the bright gorget and is greener above with warmer buffy or rufous tones below and a shorter, rounded tail.
Habitat: It lives mainly in the transition zone between semi-humid and humid deciduous forest, as well as forest borders, shrubby edges, and flowering clearings. It can occur from lowlands up to about 1800 m.
Behavior: It feeds on nectar from many small flowers and flowering trees, usually from near the ground to the middle levels of vegetation. It probably also catches tiny insects. Like other woodstars, it has a slow, bumblebee-like flight and may feed quietly within the territories of larger hummingbirds rather than strongly defending its own territory.
Breeding: Its breeding biology is poorly known. Published sources note that its breeding season and nesting details are not well documented. Like other hummingbirds, the female is expected to build the nest, incubate the eggs, and raise the chicks alone.
Conservation Status: The Little Woodstar is currently listed as Near Threatened.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
The Little Woodstar is found only in extreme southwestern Colombia, mainly near the Ecuadorian border, especially in the Andean foothill and valley areas of Nariño and possibly nearby southern Cauca.
Taxonomy
The Little Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Chaetocercus
- Species: bombus
Vocalization
Song: Not well described in detail. It is likely a short, high, insect-like series of notes rather than a complex song.
Call Notes: Short, sharp, high “tsit”, “tseet”, or “chit” notes, probably used while moving between flowers or interacting with other hummingbirds.
Territorial Calls: Quick squeaky or ticking notes may be used during chases, but detailed information is limited.
Feeding Calls: Soft, thin chips may be given when visiting flowers in forest edge or shrubby habitats.
Flight Call: Like other woodstars, its wings can produce a soft bumblebee-like buzz in flight. This is a mechanical sound, not a vocal call.
