Black Metaltail Metallura phoebe Scientific name definitions

Currently, the Black Metaltail is considered to be a Peruvian endemic, although it possibly occurs in far northern Chile. It is fairly common throughout its range, especially along the western slope of the Andes south to Arequipa, but it is locally threatened by deforestation of Polylepis forests and degradation of páramo and jalca grasslands. Its habitat includes montane scrub and open woodlands. It frequently forages out in the open, and flicks the tail and wings when perched. Larger and darker than other metaltails, the Black Metaltail is blackish with a narrow, glittering, teal gorget, which is smaller on the female. The white spot behind the eye usually is observable, and the tail is coppery-red in color. As is true of most (if not all) species of hummingbirds, it enters a period of torpor at night, to conserve energy when it is unable to feed; torpor may last 10 or more hours, during which the body temperature drops by more than 30º C.