Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Eriocnemis aline
Small, glittering hummingbird found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes. It is shining green with white leg puffs and has an irregular white patch on the underparts that is variable in size. Underparts may shine iridescent blue at certain angles in good light. Sexes similar. Uncommon inside humid forest at middle elevations, occasionally coming into clearings where there are abundant flowers or feeders.
Identification
The emerald-bellied puffleg is the smallest puffleg. It is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs 4.0 to 4.5 g (0.14 to 0.16 oz). It has a straight black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies has dark shining green upperparts with a narrow glittering bluish green forehead. It has a large white patch with green spots on its upper breast and the rest of the underparts are glittering bluish green. The tail is short and slightly forked; it is green with a markedly iridescent underside. The female is similar but without the bluish green forehead; its wings and tail are somewhat shorter. Both sex's leg puffs are white and very large. Subspecies E. a. dybowskii is larger than the nominate but the male's forehead patch is smaller and the white breast is less sharply defined.
Taxonomy
The emerald-bellied puffleg has two subspecies, the nominate E. a. aline and E. a. dybowskii. It is closely related to the colorful puffleg (E. mirabilis) and they have variously been deemed sister species or superspecies. However, one author has suggested that because their plumage is so different from that of other Eriocnemis pufflegs that they should have their own genus.
- Scientific name
- Eriocnemis aline
- Authority
- (Bourcier, 1843)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Eriocnemis
Range and habitat
The nominate subspecies of emerald-bellied puffleg is the more northerly. It is found in Colombia's Central and Eastern Andes from Boyacá Department south through Ecuador on the eastern slope of the Andes. E. a. dybowskii is found on the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes as far south as the Department of Pasco. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical montane forest, especially humid types like cloudforest. It occurs in the forest interior and small openings but shuns forest edges and more open landscapes. In elevation it is usually found between 2,300 and 2,800 m (7,500 and 9,200 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The emerald-bellied puffleg is sedentary.<p>The emerald-bellied puffleg forages for nectar in dense vegetation; it usually feeds between about 1 and 3 m (3 and 10 ft) of the ground. It also feeds on small insects.<p>Nothing is known about the emerald-bellied puffleg's breeding phenology.<p>The emerald-bellied puffleg makes "a single, slightly buzzy, metallic note, 'tzit'" call at irregular intervals while hovering.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Moreau's Sunbird
Cinnyris moreaui
A medium-sized sunbird. Males are very colorful, with a shining coppery-green iridescence on the head and back and a purple-and-red breast band with yellow sides. Females are drab yellowish-brown. Found locally in montane forest, especially clearings and forest edge. Similar to Forest Double-collared Sunbird, but there is only minor overlap in range, and males are separated by their broad yellow sides. The calls include a squeaky “tseet” that often precedes a very quick jumble of high-pitched notes.
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Large, ubiquitous yellow-bellied flycatcher found throughout most of Middle and South America, though tends to be uncommon at the far northern end of its range in the U.S. A classic “telephone wire” bird along roadsides and in towns. Prefers open areas with some trees and water. Most abundant in lowlands and foothills, but ventures up to over 3,000m in some parts of range. Listen for sharp, high-pitched twitters. Nearly identical to Couch’s Kingbird, which overlaps from Texas to Belize; best separated by voice. Larger and longer-billed than Western and Cassin’s Kingbird; also note paler brownish tail. Also very similar to White-throated (longer, forked tail) and Snowy-throated (dark mask) Kingbirds in some parts of South America.
Rwenzori Apalis
Oreolais ruwenzorii
Slim, pretty, long-tailed member of the cisticola family that sports gray upperparts and buffy underparts with a black chest band. Common in montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Usually in pairs or small groups, readily joining mixed-species flocks. Vocalizations include a ringing “svink” and a lower “veet” which are often given in duet by a pair. Not known to overlap in range with Black-collared Apalis, and differs in having a buffy rather than white throat, and no white in the outer tail.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.