Black-billed Streamertail
By Mike • March 2, 2010 • 17 commentsWhile we’re on the subject of truly sensational hummingbirds, I’d like to introduce one of the finest specimens to be found in the Greater Antilles…
Enter the Black-billed Streamertail! Of course, the bird’s stately silhouette proves the provenance of its name but only suggests its brilliant emerald raiment…
The Black-billed Streamertail (Trochilus scitulus) is a Jamaican endemic, either conspecific or closely related to its more common cousin, the Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus). While the red-billed variety is easily found throughout Jamaica, the black-bill is restricted to the eastern corner of the island.
Some call this bird the swallow tail while others dub it streamer-tail, swallow-streamer, or scissors-tail. Obviously, those ribbon-like retrices, which far exceed the male bird’s body in length, make an impression! The independent mobility of the streamers is also pretty cool.
The most prominent moniker for the Black-billed Streamertail, which is lumped in with its red-billed kin as the national bird of Jamaica, is the Doctor Bird. This nickname may be derived from the similarity of the streamertail to the frock of a doc or possibly from the tender care with which the bird administers to flowers. The blossom below was one of the streamertails’ favorite patients when I watched them at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill in Port Antonio…
But isn’t it the way of things in the dynamic, dimorphic world of birds that an avian’s appellation may only apply to adult males? Case in point, all Black-billed Streamertails have black bills but not all of them have streamertails. Try to guess what this bird, probably a juvenile, thinks of that sorry state of affairs…
The Black-billed Streamertail stands as one of the most special species to see in one of the most special spots in the Caribbean. It’s safe to say that no hummingbird lover’s list is complete without it.
Tags: hummingbirds, Jamaica
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Sensational bird. I think the flower might be an Orchid Tree.
Mike, just … you know ? … yeah, you DO know!
I’ve only ever seen Ruby-throateds. Not complaining, not whinging, just mentioning.
The last picture must be the coolest and most unusual I’ve ever seen of a hummer.
Love the last pic.
Thanks, all. I wasn’t certain that last photo would be appreciated but, considering the aesthetic astuteness of our audience, I shouldn’t have worried!
Very cool last image indeed! Yeah, our readers rock…
The last image is pretty cool. I believe the flower is that of the Poor Man’s Orchid (Bauhinia sp.)
Thanks for the ID, Ricardo.
Beautiful!
I think Jamaica has got it figured out. With the Doctor Bird as the national bird, I get jealous with my country’s blundering, stealing, Bald Eagle!
The Doctor Bird is nothing to be jealous about… the Bald Eagle is so regal. I think we in the New World are so lucky to have hummingbirds. I am watching the Oscars right now and I want to nominate the last image for “Best Picture”…. and seconds?
Hi. I was researching a birding trip for myself to Jamaica this year and saw your site. The streamertail photos were fantastic and the info helped me out with where to go on Jamaica. Thanks very much.
As for the last photo, everyone’s right! The tree is a Bauhinia Variegata, otherwise known as: Orchid tree, Poor Man’s Orchid, Matrimonio (Spanish) and Mountain Ebony. It’s from East Asia. It’s related to the Monkey Puzzle Vine (Bauhinia Guianensis of Southerm Mexico to S. America ) which I saw in Costa Rica. Monkey Puzzles look nothing like a tree! ( The vine scared the excrement out of me when a seed pod exploded – with a really loud snap – and rained seeds all around me.)
Hi, Joyous. Thanks for the ID. I didn’t realize this tree was an exotic.
Do the seed pods of the Monkey Puzzle Vine look like little melons? I saw a vine with exploding melons in Guatemala but was fortunately spared from the barrage of seeds.
Your silhouette of the Black-billed is stunning. I am very interested in using the photo (with permission if need be) as the theme and cover page of my NonFictional novel; this abstract can reflect me a book character.
This is an amazing bird that is truly unique. Beautiful Shots.This was also an interesting article in regard to the name .
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[...] a cunny bud, hard bud fe dead”. (It is a clever bird which cannot be easily killed). Visit our Black-billed Streamertail gallery for more photos of this gorgeous bird!It’s amazing how much attention elongated retrices [...]
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