Green-and-black Streamertail
Encyclopedia
The Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus), also known as the Doctor Bird, is indigenous to Jamaica
, where it is the most abundant and widespread member of the hummingbird
family. While most authorities now consider it a separate species, some (e.g. AOU
) continue to consider it conspecific with the Black-billed Streamertail
. The Red-billed Streamertail is the national bird of Jamaica.
When the Black-billed Streamertail of eastern Jamaica is considered a separate species, the Red-billed Streamertail occurs west of a line from Morant Bay
following the Morant River
, and via Ginger House and the middle Rio Grande
to Port Antonio
(Gill et al., 1973).
The next-to-outermost rectrices of the male are 15 to 18 cm (6-7 in) long, far longer than its bearer's body. Trailing behind the flying hummingbird like thin black streamers, these feather
s make a humming sound. Females lack the elongated rectrices, and are largely white below.
These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue or catch small insect
s on the wing.
The bird is featured in Ian Fleming's
James Bond
short story, For Your Eyes Only. The first line of the book reads, "The most beautiful bird in Jamaica, and some say the most beautiful bird in the world, is the streamer-tail or doctor humming-bird."
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, where it is the most abundant and widespread member of the hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
family. While most authorities now consider it a separate species, some (e.g. AOU
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
) continue to consider it conspecific with the Black-billed Streamertail
Black-billed Streamertail
The Black-billed Streamertail is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is endemic to eastern Jamaica. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Trochilus polytmus.-References:...
. The Red-billed Streamertail is the national bird of Jamaica.
When the Black-billed Streamertail of eastern Jamaica is considered a separate species, the Red-billed Streamertail occurs west of a line from Morant Bay
Morant Bay
Morant Bay is a town in southeastern Jamaica. It is the capital of the parish of St. Thomas. In 1867 it was the starting point of the Morant Bay Rebellion, the only major peasant revolt , in Jamaican history...
following the Morant River
Morant River
-References:**OMC Map**Ford, Jos C. and Finlay, A.A.C. .The Handbook of Jamaica. Jamaica Government Printing Office...
, and via Ginger House and the middle Rio Grande
Rio Grande (Jamaica)
The Rio Grande is a popular river of Jamaica, found in the parish of Portland. It was named when the Spanish occupied Jamaica in the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the largest rivers in Jamaica, it was named "Big River" by the Spanish, and today is one of the many tourist attractions in Portland,...
to Port Antonio
Port Antonio
Port Antonio is the capital of the parish of Portland on the northeastern coast of Jamaica, about 60 miles from Kingston. It had a population of 12,285 in 1982 and 13,246 in 1991...
(Gill et al., 1973).
The next-to-outermost rectrices of the male are 15 to 18 cm (6-7 in) long, far longer than its bearer's body. Trailing behind the flying hummingbird like thin black streamers, these feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s make a humming sound. Females lack the elongated rectrices, and are largely white below.
These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue or catch small insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s on the wing.
The bird is featured in Ian Fleming's
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
short story, For Your Eyes Only. The first line of the book reads, "The most beautiful bird in Jamaica, and some say the most beautiful bird in the world, is the streamer-tail or doctor humming-bird."