Black Jacobin

Identification

The black jacobin is a small hummingbird, measuring 12 to 13 cm in length and weighing approximately 9 grams for males and 8 grams for females. Adults of both sexes are predominantly black, with distinctive bronzy-olive coloring on the lower back and upper tail and wing coverts. The flanks are white, while the inner tail feathers are black and the outer tail feathers white with black tips, creating a striking contrast in flight. Juveniles are notably different, displaying dark plumage with a wide cinnamon band across the center and sides of the throat and a white belly, along with white outer tail feathers.

Range & Habitat

The black jacobin is found across southeastern South America, with its primary range extending from Bahia in Brazil southward through Rio Grande do Sul and into eastern Uruguay, with separate populations in southeastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. The species shows a preference for woodlands, gardens, and cultivated areas such as coffee and cacao plantations that contain tall trees. It inhabits elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,400 meters, and scattered records indicate occasional sightings beyond its primary range.

Behaviour & Diet

The black jacobin is a migratory species, though migration patterns remain poorly understood. Generally, the species moves southward during the austral winter, though winter records also document movements to the northwest in Brazil's cerrado biome. These hummingbirds forage throughout all levels of their habitat, feeding primarily on nectar from native and introduced flowers, bromeliads, and various shrubs. Despite their highly territorial nature—aggressively defending food sources against competitors—congregations of 50 or more individuals have been observed feeding together on patches of Dombeya wallichii during July. The black jacobin supplements its diet with small insects captured in flight and gleaned from leaves and spider webs.

Best Time & Places to See It

The black jacobin is common throughout Brazil and is protected within many nature reserves across its range. The species is most active during its breeding season, which extends from July through May, with July particularly notable for the large feeding congregations that form around flowering shrubs. The bird's readiness to occupy man-made habitats means that gardens, plantations, and cultivated areas offer excellent viewing opportunities alongside natural woodland habitats.

Photography Tips

Photographers should listen for the black jacobin's distinctive vocalizations—a rapid series of high-pitched hissing notes, along with short "tsik" or "chik" calls and trilling sounds—to locate birds in dense vegetation. The contrast between the male's glossy black plumage and white flanks provides excellent photographic potential, particularly when backlighting captures the bronzy-olive tones of the lower back. July feeding congregations at flowering Dombeya wallichii shrubs offer opportunities for photographing multiple individuals, while the white outer tail feathers in flight create distinctive visual markers for tracking subjects.