Wire-crested Thorntail
A species of Thorntails Scientific name : Discosura popelairii Genus : Thorntails
Wire-crested Thorntail, A species of Thorntails
Botanical name: Discosura popelairii
Genus: Thorntails
Content
Description
Description
The wire-crested thorntail (Discosura popelairii) is a hummingbird which occurs in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This species is one of the smallest birds on Earth, with a mature weight of around 2.5 g (0.088 oz). Males measure from 10.5 to 12 cm (4.1 to 4.7 in) in length, against the females' length of around 6.5 to 7.5 cm (2.6 to 3.0 in) long. The male of the eastern slopes of the northern Andes has elongated tail feathers that curve outward and taper from a broad base to a slender tip. The outermost is longest and each successive feather toward the center is shorter. All are steel-blue with white shafts, making a most striking and curious display when spread. The bird has a crest of brilliant green feathers. These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue, or catch insects on the wing. They require frequent feeding while active during the day and become torpid at night to conserve energy. 
Size
11 cm
Feeding Habits
Wire-crested Thorntail primarily consumes the nectar of flowering Inga trees and supplements its diet with arthropods, showcasing both pollinator and predator feeding behaviors.
Habitat
The wire-crested Thorntail primarily inhabits humid, tropical forests and the adjacent edges within broader South American regions. These environments are characterized by dense vegetation, which provides rich foraging opportunities, typically in the forest canopy, supporting the bird's nectarivorous diet.
Dite type
Nectivorous
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Swifts and hummingbirds Family
Hummingbirds Genus
Thorntails Species
Wire-crested Thorntail 
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