Bird of the Month - August 2006
Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus )
Other local names: Doctor Bird, Long-tail Doctor Bird, God Bird, Scissors-tail Hummingbird, Western Streamertail
The Red-billed Streamertail is a Jamaican endemic genus and species. Described as the most spectacular hummingbird of the insular Caribbean, this species is the most easily observable Jamaican endemic bird. Most commonly called the “Doctor Bird,” the Red-billed Streamertail is well represented in Jamaican folklore, and killing these birds is considered to bring bad fortune on one’s self in most parts of rural Jamaica.
Range and Habitat Needs
- Found only in Jamaica where it is an abundant and widespread resident bird.
- Occurs in all habitats from sea level to the highest mountains wherever there are flowering plants. Absent only from the most eastern end of the island.
- Most abundant in closed forest, but is a common garden bird and a popular garden-feeder species.
- Feeds on nectar, spiders and small insects.
- The only other member of this endemic genus is the Black-billed Streamertail, which occurs only in the extreme eastern part of Jamaica. The two were formerly combined as a single species, but differ significantly in courtship behavior, call, bill color and width, and to a lesser degree body size. Where the two species meet between the Blue Mountain and John Crow Mountain ranges in eastern Jamaica they form a zone of hybrids.
- The Red-billed Streamertail is not currently considered to be of any immediate conservation concern.
- The long tail feathers resemble the old-fashioned coattails of a doctor; hence, Jamaicans call it the "Doctor Bird."
- To see a Doctor Bird up close, there is no better place than Rockland’s Bird Sanctuary and Feeding Station, located just south of Montego Bay in Anchovy. Here, since the early 1950’s, hummingbirds nurtured by the late Lisa Salmon have been trained to feed out of your hand. The spectacular displays and intimate encounter provided by Rockland’s hummingbirds has attracted many eminent visitors including European Royalty, global heads of state (such as Winston Churchill), and Vogue Magazine to name but a few.
Red-billed Streamertail Bird of the Month contributed by Leo Douglas
- Male: Bright iridescent emerald green body, black head with lateral crown feathers elongated behind the nape to form conspicuous ear tufts, bill is bright red with black tip.
Tail is black with the second to outermost tail feathers elongated to form ‘streamers’ (13 cm or 6 in long), which are often crossed. The streamers, scalloped and fluted on the inside, create a high whining humming sound in flight. Immature males and males in moult lack the streamers.
- Female: Green upper back with white underparts, gray-brown head, bill is mostly dark, red at base. No streamers in the tail, but outer tail feathers are tipped white.
- Voice is a loud, metallic-sounding ‘ting, ting, ting’ repeated several times or a prolonged “tee-tee-tee…” often heard as a distress call.
- Nest is a small compact cup constructed of plant materials bound together by spider’s web and often camouflaged with lichens.
- Breeds year-round mainly from October to March.
- Females lay two bean-sized white eggs, incubation period is 2-3 weeks.
- Baby hummingbirds are born without feathers, fed regurgitated insects. Ready to leave the nest after only 3 weeks. Up to three broods may be raised in one season.