Geoffroy's Daggerbill Schistes geoffroyi Scientific name definitions

The two species of daggerbill - Geoffroy's Daggerbill and Choco Daggerbill (Schistes albogularis) - formerly were classified as a single species, Wedge-billed Hummingbird (Schistes geoffroyi). The recurring mention of "wedge" in the former English name for these hummingbirds refers to the tip of the bill, which is very narrow and sharply pointed - dagger-like, as it were. This unusual bill shape is quite distinctive, but is not readily seen in the field. Daggerbills readily are identified the combination of relatively small size, overall green plumage, conspicuous white postocular streak, and blue or violet patch on each side of the upper breast, bordered below by a broad white band. Males also have a glittering green gorget. Among the differences in plumage between the two species, the white pectoral patches of Choco Daggerbill are joined across the breast (rather than confined to the sides, as in Geoffroy's Daggerbill); the forecrown is glittering green in Choco, but duller green in Geoffroy's; the white postocular streak is much longer in Geoffroy's than in Choco; and the lower back and rump are green in Choco, but are coppery bronze in Geoffroy's. Also, the throat of female Choco is white) and unmarked, whereas the throat of female Geoffroy's is white but heavily speckled with green. The songs of the two species also differ. Both species of daggerbill are rather uncommon inhabitants of the understory of humid montane forest, where they feed from tubular flowers and often rob nectar by piercing the base of flowers without actually achieving pollination.

8·6–9·3 cm; 3·5–4·1 g. Male has short straight bill, broad at base, sharply pointed, black; above  bronzy-green becoming coppery on rump; throat iridescent golden-green, broken pectoral band white, patch on each side of throat glittering violet  , rest of underparts green, undertail-coverts white; tail rounded, central rectrices green, rest bronze-green with darkish blue subterminal band, tipped white. Female  similar to male, but gorget duller  . Immature probably similar to adult female. Race chapmani  has uniform-coloured crown like nominate, lateral throat patches without white, less white on belly.

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Song an insect-like series of regularly spaced simple “tsit”  or sibilant “sink” notes, at a rate of 1·5–2·8 notes/second, given from a low, open perch.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Uncommon to locally common in dense cloudforest. Occurs in Henri Pittier National Park (NC Venezuela), but is generally considered to be very local and uncommon in Venezuela, where records are erratic and unpredictable, and reported to be common in Cueva de los Guácharos National (SE Colombia).