This large hummingbird has a long black bill and a long tail. In all plumages, note the small but obvious white triangle behind the eye. Male: Dark green above, blackish below. The gorget is turquoise, and the crown is violet, but these areas often appear blackish in poor light. The dark tail and wing feathers have a bronzy sheen. Female: Green above, dull gray below. The sides are washed with green. The face is gray, with the white triangle behind the eye, and an indistinct whitish line extending back from the eye. Tail is bronzy-green, banded black with small white tips on the outer three pairs of tail feathers. Juvenile male has dark scaly underparts and a patchy gorget and crown. Juvenile female resembles adult female, but with pale feather edges on the upperparts and white tips on all the tail feathers.

Length: 11 (cm) Wingspan: 15 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a thin sharp tsik.

Habitat:

Pine and pine-oak forest, riparian woods.

Behavior:

Feeding:

Feeds on floral nectar and small insects.