Order
Caprimulgiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Genus
Metallura
 
Neotropical Birds logo
Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Coppery Metaltail Metallura theresiae

Thomas S. Schulenberg
Version: 1.0 — Published December 13, 2013

Behavior

Introduction

There is little information on the behavior of Coppery Metaltail. Often perches on the top of shrubs (Fjeldså and Krabbe 1990). Presumably catches arthropods with short flycatching sallies, as does the closely related Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae) (Parker et al. 1985).

Territoriality

Little information. Coppery Metaltails frequently are observed in intraspecific chases, which may be acts of territorial defense.

Sexual Behavior

Little information. Coppery Metaltail presumably is polygynous, as are most if not all species of hummingbirds (Schuchmann 1999: 509).

Fjeldså and Krabbe (1990) describe an apparent courtship display, in which the male "repeatedly bounces 1 m up and down, or alternates rapidly between 2 perches in front of female".

Social and interspecific behavior

Coppery Metaltail usually is solitary, as is typical of hummingbirds.

Predation

No documented reports of predation on Coppery Metaltail?

Recommended Citation

Schulenberg, T. S. (2013). Coppery Metaltail (Metallura theresiae), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.copmet1.01