The Story
I photographed this Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) at the Jardín Botánico del Quindío in Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia, on July 17, 2018. Like most hummingbirds it feeds on nectar and small insects. It is very territorial at flower patches and feeders, chasing off other hummingbirds and even large insects. Even so, it sometimes nests in loose colonies. The Jardín Botánico del Quindío in Calarcá is a scientific research and environmental education center, and it was the first legally constituted botanical garden in Colombia. IUCN lists the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird as Least Concern, with a decreasing population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100. The garden opened to the public in 2000, supports itself with help from the community and partner organizations, and has been a leader in ecotourism in the region.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) belongs to the family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2021), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List