The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is distributed from eastern Mexico through Central America to Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. See the distribution map at Natureserve.

It is found in a wide variety of habitats but is more numerous in humid areas and is not found inside forest.

Its main distinguishing features are its red lower mandible (and sometimes upper mandible) with a dark tip and its rufous tail. It has green upperparts, throat and chest but the breast and belly are dingy grey.

The call is an excited "chitting"