Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Heliodoxa rubinoides
Medium-sized hummingbird found in Andean cloud forest from 1,000–2,200 m. Fairly distinctive with warm buffy underparts and green upperparts. Bill is fairly long and slightly drooped at the tip. Isolated pink throat patch. Female similar to male but with more green spotting on underparts and throat patch typically smaller or absent. Usually uncommon at lower levels within forest, but can be quite common at feeders.
Identification
The bird is green above and an iridescent copper on the underparts. It has areas of fawn and green and copper spotting. The beak is long and slightly curved.
Taxonomy
The fawn-breasted brilliant is a member of the hummingbird family, Trochilidae.<p>There are 3 subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Heliodoxa rubinoides
- Authority
- (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1846)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Heliodoxa
Range and habitat
The fawn-breasted brilliant is native to the Andes, the various subspecies occupying different mountain slopes. It is somewhat uncommon, with a patchy distribution, but it is of least concern, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It lives in tropical forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The diet of the fawn-breasted brilliant mainly consists of nectar. It defends quality nectar flowers from other nectarivores, including insects such as bumblebees. When feeding it hovers before the flower or hangs from it, and inserts its tongue up to 13 times per second. It will also visit bird feeders and will drink water from fountains and bird baths. It takes small insects and spiders for extra protein. The female catches large quantities of insects during breeding because they are an important food for the chicks. The bird catches insect prey by hawking, picking them from plants, and plucking them from spider webs.<p>The bird is only social during breeding. The male performs a courtship display by flying in U-shaped patterns before the female. There is no pair bond and the male is not involved with nesting or the rearing of the young. Both male and female mate with several partners.<p>The female constructs a nest in a shrub or tree. It is made of plant fibers, spider webs, animal hairs, and down, and it is lined externally with moss for camouflage. She lays a clutch of two white eggs. She regurgitates insect material for the chicks, because they cannot persist on nectar alone. She broods the chicks for about 12 days, after which there is not enough room for her in the nest. The young depart at about 20 days.<p>The fawn-breasted brilliant makes two different vocalizations, a series of “tchik” notes and a common “swi-swi-swi-swu” call.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Fulvous-faced Scrub-Tyrant
Euscarthmus fulviceps
Very small grayish-brown flycatcher, with brighter orangey color on the face and forehead. Occurs in dry areas and pastures with scattered trees and bushes where it mostly forages near the ground and is typically difficult to spot. It is very noisy, emitting squeaky “plee-plit-irick” calls, sometimes in a duet. Occurs in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru.
Northern Wattled-Honeyeater
Foulehaio taviunensis
A medium-sized grayish honeyeater with an olive cast to the wings and a bright yellow-orange wattle on the cheek below the eye. Found mainly in mature forest. Absent from coconut plantations and secondary growth. Gives loud, chiming, melodious whistles and bell-like sounds.
White-breasted Parrotbill
Paradoxornis ruficeps
Chunky parrotbill with a large head and a relatively short tail. Very similar in appearance to Rufous-headed and Pale-billed Parrotbills, but note brighter coloration and whiter underparts. Forages in small flocks, often with other species, in foothill forest bamboo clusters; also in reedbeds and tall grass. Song is a descending series of 4-5 whistles: “wee-dee-dee-dee-dee.” Calls include a loud, sputtering machine-gun chatter.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.