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Photo: © Johnnier Arango 🇨🇴 theandeanbirder.com eBird S82142325 Macaulay Library ML 333511571
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Chiribiquete Emerald

Chlorostilbon olivaresi
Esmeralda del Chiribiquete
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Song

Chiribiquete Emerald

Appearance: The male Chiribiquete Emerald boasts an iridescent green body, with a darker green or bluish crown. The throat can appear bright metallic green, while the underparts are often a paler shade of green or gray. The female is similar in color but duller. The female has a more varied plumage with less iridescence and a slightly shorter tail compared to the male.
Habitat: The Chiribiquete Emerald is endemic to the Amazon basin in Colombia, particularly the Chiribiquete National Park region. It is found in lowland moist tropical forests and edges. The species thrives in areas with abundant flowering plants, which provide essential nectar sources throughout the year.
Behavior: This hummingbird is known for its agility and is often seen hovering near flowers, efficiently extracting nectar with its long, slender bill. Males are territorial and display aggressive behaviors to defend their feeding territories from other hummingbirds. They can be solitary or found in small groups, especially in areas where food sources are plentiful.
Breeding: Breeding occurs during the rainy seasons, aligning with abundant nectar availability. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest, often in a sheltered location within shrubs or trees. The female is solely responsible for incubating the eggs 

Conservation Status: The Chiribiquete Emerald is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. 
MALE
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Photo: © Johnnier Arango 🇨🇴 theandeanbirder.com eBird S82142325 Macaulay Library ML 333511571
FEMALE
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Photo: © José Castaño eBird S87374615 Macaulay Library ML 335166901

Distribution

Amazonas Department: The Chiribiquete Emerald is found in the Chiribiquete National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park encompasses vast areas of untouched tropical rainforest, providing ideal habitats for the species.
Guaviare Department: The species can also be spotted in parts of the Guaviare Department in areas adjacent to the national park, where similar forest types exist.

Taxonomy

The Chiribiquete Emerald (Chlorostilbon olivaresi)
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves (Birds)
  • Order: Caprimulgiformes
  • Family: Trochilidae
  • Genus: Chlorostilbon
  • Species: Chlorostilbon olivaresi

Vocalization

Territorial Calls: Males often use specific calls to assert their territory during the breeding season. The calls can serve to signal their presence to both rivals and potential mates.

Contact Calls: They produce short calls to maintain contact with other individuals, especially in dense forest habitats where visibility may be limited.