Principe Sunbird

Rather long-tailed antbird of humid forest understory in lowlands and mountains from Colombia to Bolivia. Usually stays hidden in dense vegetation and thickets, sometimes attending army antswarms. Male is black; female is extremely variable throughout range. On the west slope of the Andes in Ecuador and extreme northwestern Peru, female is plain brownish with no distinctive features. On the east slope of the Andes from Colombia to northern Peru, female has black body and rufous-brown upperparts. In central Peru, female is entirely rufous-brown with a black head. From southeast Peru to Bolivia, female is rufous-brown overall with a tawny chest and a distinctive pale eyebrow. Both sexes have ruby-red eyes and a white patch on the back that is usually hidden; it is exposed when the bird is excited such as when defending its territory. Song is a very fast series of short whistles.

This distinctive, short-billed hummingbird is an iconic denizen of the high paramo. Both sexes have a dull green body, white throat and v-like collar, and dusky, forked tail. Male’s black face is set off by spiky black-and-white crest and long white beard. Seasonally common and territorial, perching on plants or rocks or foraging in paramo vegetation. Often found in areas with boulders and water. Voice is a high pitch note “peek….peek…peek.” No similar species in range. Endemic to the Andes of Venezuela.

Majestic large hummingbird with a long, straight bill. Has a green head with a bronzy brown body; males have an iridescent violet throat patch and blue forehead. Has a striking tail pattern visible in flight, with black contrasting with large panels of buffy orange or white, depending on the subspecies. Found low in montane forest, elfin forest, and humid shrubby areas above the treeline.