BEIJA-FLOR-TESOURA (AS KNOWN IN BRAZIL)

Eupetomena macroura

The Swallow-Tailed Hummingbird is one of the most iconic birds in the Americas, also known as the Scissor-Tailed Hummingbird or Beija-Flor-Tesoura (in Brazil). It's perhaps the most famous member of this group, likely due to its abundance in urban areas, the beauty of its coloration, the easily recognizable scissor-shaped tail, and especially its bold behavior, as it's one of the largest and most combative hummingbirds. Measuring between 5 and 7 inches and weighing 0.2 and 0.3 ounces, it stands out with blue-violet plumage on its head and neck, and iridescent dark green on the rest of its body. It has a long and deeply forked tail that makes up almost 2/3 of its total length.

Its diet primarily consists of flower nectar, but it also captures small insects in short flights. Mating involves complex behaviors such as courtship flights and copulation. The female builds the nest in the shape of a bowl using plant material and spider silk.

Found in semi-open areas, forest edges, shrublands, and gardens, it's even common in large cities. It's territorial and aggressive, attacking larger birds and small mammals. Its distribution spans across all of Brazil.