One of the most entertaining hummers, several are usually always present except during very dry periods. Adult males are unmistakable with their spoon-shaped tails and white fluffy boots, but beware the odd individual that has not yet grown its tail feathers. Females are patterned rather like female Purple-bibbed White-tips, but are smaller, and do not have speckling on their throats. Andean Emeralds are also white below, but they are much larger and do not have the Racket-tail’s white moustache. Watch for the males’ display, when they puff up their boots, spread their tails, and flick them from side to side in front of a female.

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female