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Glowing Puffleg
Eriocnemis vestita
Song
Glowing Puffleg
Appearance: The Glowing Puffleg is a small hummingbird, known for its vibrant and iridescent plumage. Key features include: Iridescent green body with a shimmering quality, which can appear to glow in certain lighting. Pufflegs named for the marked tufts of white feathers around their legs, resembling "puffs." The tail is dark with a metallic sheen, often with blue or green hues. Small size of hummingbirds with a slender bill adapted for nectar feeding.
Habitat: The Glowing Puffleg prefers high-altitude environments, often found in cloud forests and páramo ecosystems. Inhabits areas with abundant flowering plants which provide nectar. Thrives in humid, misty conditions typical of mountainous regions.
Behavior: The Glowing Puffleg is nectarivorous, feeding on a variety of flowering plants. They use their specialized bills to extract nectar while hovering. Males can be territorial, especially around rich feeding sites. Exhibits agile and rapid flight, characteristic of hummingbirds, allowing them to hover and maneuver easily.
Breeding: Constructs small cup-shaped nests, often using plant fibers and spider silk for binding. They lay one to two eggs per clutch, with females solely responsible for incubation and care of the young.
Conservation Status: As of the latest assessments, the Glowing Puffleg is classified as Least Concern.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
The Glowing Puffleg is found in the Andes of Colombia, with a range that extends into Venezuela and Ecuador. Not present in northern Colombia.
Taxonomy
The Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Eriocnemis
- Species: Eriocnemis vestita
Vocalization
The Glowing Puffleg is a species of hummingbird known for its vibrant plumage and white leg puffs. While specific details about its vocalizations might not be extensively documented, hummingbirds generally produce a variety of sounds, such as chips, chirps, and whistles. These sounds are often used for communication between individuals in the context of territory defense or attracting mates.
