Only the male long-tailed sylphs actually have long tails, which are so long they can get in the way of flying. Females mate with long-tailed males, perhaps reasoning that they must be strong and healthy to survive with such impractical feathers.
Stock Image #20190524-13491942
Photograph of Long Tailed Sylph Hummingbird in Ecuador was last modified: June 8th, 2020 by