It has a slender and compact morphology, typical of members of the family Trochilidae, with a body length of approximately 8 to 10 centimeters and a weight of around 3 to 4 grams. Its plumage shows bright, iridescent green tones on the upperparts, while the underparts are predominantly whitish, with the flanks and lateral areas tinged green. The throat and breast may show greenish or bluish reflections, the intensity of which varies considerably depending on the incidence of light. The bill is relatively short and almost straight, with a black maxilla and a reddish or pinkish mandible, generally with a dark tip. The undertail coverts are whitish, while the tail shows greenish-bronze tones, with darker areas that may acquire coppery or purplish reflections depending on the lighting.
Geographic distribution: It is distributed mainly across central and eastern South America. Its range encompasses much of Brazil, including northeastern, central, and southeastern regions, extending southward to the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. It also occurs in parts of eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina, mainly in the provinces of Misiones and Corrientes. Its presence is primarily associated with subtropical and tropical regions, where it finds a wide variety of habitats with an abundance of flowering plants.
Habitat: It inhabits a wide variety of open and semi-open environments, particularly forest edges and clearings, capoeiras, wooded savannas, scrublands, rural areas, and human-modified environments. It also frequents gardens, parks, plantations, and other areas with abundant flowering vegetation. It can use both natural and secondary habitats, particularly taking advantage of areas where there is a constant supply of flowers and vegetative cover. It usually moves through the lower and middle strata of vegetation and along the edges of forest formations.
Diet: Its diet is primarily nectar-based, supplemented by small arthropods. It visits numerous species of flowering plants and plays an important role as a pollinator. It feeds on nectar from flowers of different plant families, adapting its diet to the seasonal availability of resources. It also captures small insects and other arthropods, especially during short flights between vegetation, thereby obtaining proteins and other nutrients necessary for its metabolism and reproduction.
Behavior: It is an active and agile hummingbird, capable of hovering in front of flowers and making rapid movements between different food sources. It may actively defend areas with abundant nectar availability against other hummingbirds and potential competitors. Its flight is characterized by rapid wingbeats and abrupt changes in direction. Its vocalizations are high-pitched and repetitive, particularly during interactions between individuals. As in other hummingbirds, it alternates periods of intense feeding activity with periods of rest from small perches located in the vegetation.
Nesting: Nest construction and all activities related to incubation and raising the young are carried out exclusively by the female. She builds a small cup-shaped nest made primarily of plant fibers, fine vegetal material, and other soft materials, bound together with spider webs that provide elasticity to the structure. The exterior may incorporate small fragments of plant material that help camouflage it among the vegetation. It is generally placed on thin branches or other plant structures, a short distance above the ground. The clutch usually consists of two white eggs, which are incubated exclusively by the female. The chicks hatch naked and remain in the nest during the first weeks of life, being fed by the mother until they reach the development necessary for their first flights.
Taxonomic background in EcoRegistros: The identity of a particular form of Amazilia recorded in the province of Misiones, Argentina, was the subject of discussion during the early years of EcoRegistros. In particular, a form characterized by an unmarked division between the neck and throat, extending to the abdomen, was maintained for years in a separate species account under the designation Amazilia sp. (aff. Amazilia brevirostris) (aff. Amazilia leucogaster) (aff. Amazilia versicolor), also associated with the common name Picaflor Faja Blanca, proposed by Chebez.
The decision to keep this form separate was due to the diversity of forms within the genus Amazilia, its broad geographic distribution, the appearance of new records for Argentina, such as Amazilia lactea, and the lack of detailed systematic studies that could clarify the identity of certain forms, subspecies, geographic races, or immature individuals. The account also aimed to encourage comparative study of the numerous photographic and sound records preserved by EcoRegistros.
At that time, several taxonomic possibilities were considered:
Amazilia brevirostris (Lesson, 1829): Chebez et al. (2008) identified the form as Amazilia brevirostris, after obtaining and compiling numerous records, examining specimens deposited at the MACN, and conducting an extensive bibliographic review. They also mentioned that its song would be distinguishable from that of Amazilia versicolor.
Amazilia leucogaster (Gmelin, 1788): Militello (2013, in litt.), considering aspects of geographic proximity, suggested that it might correspond to Amazilia leucogaster and pointed out the need for a complete revision of the genus in southern Brazil and Argentina. Amazilia leucogaster is characterized by an unmarked division between the neck and throat extending toward the abdomen, with the central portion of the throat being white and unspotted. This area is considerably narrower than in the northern form attributed to Amazilia brevirostris, which has a broader white throat (Militello, pers. obs.).
Amazilia versicolor versicolor (Vieillot, 1818): Gorleri (2014, in litt.) suggested identifying this form as Amazilia versicolor versicolor, based on comparisons of the bill and rectrices with those of Amazilia brevirostris/Amazilia leucogaster, as well as considering the geographic proximity of this race. He noted that A. v. versicolor is abundant along the southern Brazilian coast and could make movements inland, occasionally reaching the province of Misiones. He also emphasized that the taxonomy of the group required revision.
Castillo (2014, in litt.), based on observations made over 13 years at the Jardín de los Picaflores, referred to this form as a migrant and winter visitor, indicating that it arrived in the city of Puerto Iguazú between April and remained until the end of September. This assessment was consistent with the monthly species report for Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, available on EcoRegistros at that time. He also noted a difference of several millimeters in size compared with Amazilia versicolor kubtchecki, as well as a different vocalization that had not been recorded up to that point.
While efforts were being made to clarify the status of this form in Argentina, EcoRegistros maintained the account Amazilia sp. aff. Amazilia brevirostris in order to specifically address these records and evaluate them independently from Amazilia brevirostris, Amazilia versicolor, Amazilia leucogaster, and Amazilia fimbriata, until a clearer taxonomic interpretation became available.
These taxonomic background records were developed by Eduardo Militello, Fabricio Gorleri, Leandro S. Castillo, and Jorge La Grotteria, based on the information, observations, and taxonomic considerations available at the time, and were published on EcoRegistros on 14/05/2014.
Current status: The form that was historically treated independently in EcoRegistros is currently considered to correspond to Amazilia versicolor versicolor. Consequently, the records associated with the former Amazilia sp. aff. Amazilia brevirostris account were transferred to Amazilia versicolor versicolor within the EcoRegistros database, while preserving this background as part of the history of its taxonomic treatment.
Conservation status: It is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Although it may be locally affected by the loss and transformation of natural habitats, its ability to use secondary habitats, rural areas, and modified green spaces allows it to occupy a wide variety of habitats throughout its range.
Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 23/09/2026