Chupire vs Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Euphorbia calyculata compared with Amazilia tzacatl

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chupire	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Malpighiales (Malpighiales)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Euphorbiaceae	Trochilidae
Genus	Euphorbia	Amazilia
Species	Euphorbia calyculata	Amazilia tzacatl

Conservation Status

Chupire

LC — Least Concern

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chupire	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chupire

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Chupire

Chupire (Euphorbia calyculata) is a succulent or semi-succulent plant in the large family Euphorbiaceae, found in tropical and subtropical dry habitats of Mesoamerica and northern South America including Venezuela. The genus Euphorbia is one of the most species-rich genera of flowering plants, encompassing an enormous range of growth forms from tiny annual herbs to massive succulent trees, united by the presence of a milky, toxic latex and a specialized inflorescence called the cyathium. E. calyculata grows as a shrub or small tree in dry to seasonally dry tropical environments, contributing to the structure of thornscrub, dry forest edges, and rocky hillside vegetation. The Chupire is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating stable populations within its native range. Its latex, like that of many Euphorbias, contains diterpene esters and other irritant compounds that deter herbivory. In some regions, the plant has traditional uses in folk medicine and as living fences or hedgerows, exploiting its branching structure and drought tolerance. The species contributes to the floristic diversity of Neotropical dry vegetation, a biome under increasing pressure from agricultural expansion and climate-driven aridity.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

One of the most common hummingbirds in Central America and northwestern South America, rufous-tailed hummingbirds are medium-sized with green upper parts and a diagnostic bright rufous-orange tail. Found from Mexico to Ecuador and Trinidad in a wide range of habitats including forest edges, gardens, plantations, and secondary growth from sea level to 2,100 meters. Aggressive territory defenders at feeders and flowering plants, they are frequently seen in gardens across their range. Listed as Least Concern.