A Rare Record of the Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) at Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad: Implications for Conservation and Monitoring
Author: Giselle Ragoonanan
On March 10, 2025, a Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) was observed at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad marking the first confirmed sighting at this site since 2019. The bird, presumed to be a non-breeding or juvenile male, was recorded feeding on Verbena sp. and Calliandra surinamensis flowers, while facing notable interspecific competition from resident hummingbird species. The observation provides valuable insight into the distribution and site fidelity of this infrequently recorded species in Trinidad and highlights the importance of continuous monitoring efforts at conservation sites. The occurrence also highlights the ecological significance of flowering plant availability and hummingbird community dynamics in shaping the presence of rare species. This account emphasizes the need for structured long-term monitoring to detect such occurrences and support conservation planning for avian biodiversity.
Introduction
The Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) is a diminutive hummingbird distributed across Colombia, Venezuela, and the island of Trinidad, with local records in Tobago being unconfirmed (BirdLife International, 2024). Typically associated with semi-open habitats such as forest edges, scrublands, and lower montane regions, the species’ range is predominantly at elevations between 900 and 2,500 meters on the mainland (Züchner & Kirwan, 2020). In Trinidad, however, the species appears sporadically at lower elevations, and its occurrence is poorly documented (Kenefick, 2020).
The Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) has served as one of Trinidad’s most significant ecological research sites and birdwatching destinations for decades. The site’s biodiversity, particularly its rich hummingbird community, has been well established in both the scientific literature and birding records. Notably, the Rufous-shafted Woodstar has remained absent from documented observations at the Centre for approximately six years. This observation provides new data on the species’ local presence and raises questions regarding the ecological drivers influencing its detection.
Observation Details
The observation was made on March 10, 2025, beginning at approximately 11:35 AM and concluding at 2:15 PM. The individual was sighted on six separate occasions from the veranda of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, actively foraging at ground-level Verbena sp. inflorescences. Optical equipment used for identification included Vortex 8×40 binoculars, and weather conditions were favorable for observation, with clear skies and direct light. Video documentation was also obtained.
Subsequent visits to the same location over the following three weeks confirmed the woodstar’s continued presence. The bird was frequently observed feeding not only on Verbena sp. but also on pink powder puff (Calliandra surinamensis), reinforcing the importance of specific floral resources for the species’ foraging activity.
Morphological Characteristics
The individual displayed several diagnostic traits consistent with Chaetocercus jourdanii:
- A broad, white band extending from the throat to the nape.
- White tibial tufts extending toward the vent area, with two symmetrical white rump patches.
- A clearly defined white eye-line, distinct from a supercilium.
- Rufous-colored flank feathers extending to the lower abdomen.
- An incomplete iridescent gorget, suggesting the individual was either a juvenile or a non-breeding male.
- Rectrices proportionately longer and differently shaped than those of the sympatric Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina), with the Rufous-shafted Woodstar appearing marginally larger.
These morphological features align with established field guides and species accounts (Züchner & Kirwan, 2020) and were reported to the Trinidad and Tobago Rare Bird Committee for independent verification by Ragoonanan, 2025.
Behavioral Observations
Throughout the observation period, the Rufous-shafted Woodstar exhibited typical foraging behavior, making repeated visits to flowering plants while engaging in short hovering bouts. In several instances, the bird was displaced by larger resident hummingbird species, particularly the White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) and the Copper-rumped Hummingbird (Amazilia tobaci). Such interactions are consistent with the territorial behaviors of these species, which are known to exclude smaller hummingbirds from preferred feeding patches (Stiles, 2005).
The woodstar’s inability to maintain prolonged foraging at individual flower patches without disturbance emphasises its opportunistic foraging strategy. As a species that does not typically defend feeding territories, its reliance on evading aggression from dominant species may limit its visibility and detection frequency in competitive hummingbird assemblages (Züchner & Kirwan, 2020).
Ecological and Historical Significance
The absence of recent records of the Rufous-shafted Woodstar at Asa Wright prior to this observation highlights the value of sustained monitoring efforts in detecting uncommon or irregular species. The six-year gap between confirmed sightings could result from a combination of factors, including:
- Observation Effort: The temporary closure of the Asa Wright ecolodge during the COVID-19 pandemic likely reduced birdwatching activity and record submissions, limiting detection opportunities.
- Habitat and Resource Availability: Seasonal fluctuations in the availability of key nectar resources, particularly Verbena sp. and Calliandra species, may significantly influence the presence of nectarivorous species like the Rufous-shafted Woodstar.
- Interspecific Competition: Persistent aggression from territorial hummingbirds may discourage or displace small-bodied species, affecting their site fidelity and visibility during observation periods.
The reappearance of the Rufous-shafted Woodstar suggests the site continues to provide suitable, albeit contested, foraging opportunities and emphasizes the need for improved understanding of fine-scale ecological dynamics at conservation areas.
Conservation and Future Monitoring
This observation reinforces the ecological importance of protected areas like Asa Wright Nature Centre in supporting rare and understudied species. Continued field observations and structured monitoring programs are essential for refining knowledge of the Rufous-shafted Woodstar’s distribution and habitat associations in Trinidad.
Recommended actions include:
- Implementing floral resource surveys to document seasonal fluctuations in nectar availability.
- Conducting standardized seasonal bird surveys to assess the frequency and patterns of occurrence for C. jourdaniiand other infrequently recorded hummingbirds.
- Encouraging photographic and acoustic documentation to improve reporting accuracy and species detection.
Given the species’ sensitivity to interspecific interactions and resource competition, further research could help clarify the conditions that allow for its periodic presence at sites like Asa Wright.
Conclusion
The observation of a Rufous-shafted Woodstar at Asa Wright Nature Centre in 2025 contributes to the limited but valuable dataset on the species’ occurrence in Trinidad. Its reappearance following a multi-year absence reinforces the need for consistent monitoring and highlights the ecological role of flowering plant diversity and hummingbird community dynamics in shaping the presence of rare species. Continued research and conservation attention will be necessary to support efforts aimed at preserving hummingbird diversity on the island.
References
BirdLife International. (2024). Species factsheet: Rufous-shafted Woodstar Chaetocercus jourdanii. https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-shafted-woodstar-chaetocercus-jourdanii
Kenefick, M. (2020). Species lists of birds for South American countries and territories: Trinidad and Tobago. South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm
Stiles, F. G. (2005). Territorial behavior of hummingbirds: Contrasts with other birds and some consequences. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 56(20), 331–336.
Züchner, T., & Kirwan, G. M. (2020). Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii), version 1.0. In J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, & E. de Juana (Eds.), Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ruswoo1.01
