Oreotrochilus estella
The Andean Hillstar, *Oreotrochilus estella*, is a captivating and robust hummingbird species uniquely adapted to the harsh, high-altitude environments of the Andes. Males typically measure 13-15 cm in length and boast a striking iridescent green gorget that can flash violet, contrasting sharply with a white belly bisected by a prominent chestnut streak, and a bronze-green back. Females are somewhat duller, lacking the male's vibrant gorget and often displaying a white throat finely streaked ...
This species thrives in high-altitude environments, primarily inhabiting puna grasslands, rocky slopes, and montane scrub, often in areas with scattered *Polylepis* woodlands. It is typically found above the tree line, from 3,000 to over 5,000 meters (9,800-16,400 feet) in elevation.
The Andean Hillstar primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of high-altitude flowering plants, including *Puya* and *Caiophora* species. It supplements its diet with small insects and arthropods, which it gleans from vegetation or catches in flight.
The Andean Hillstar is a diurnal species, active throughout the cold days, but famously enters a state of deep torpor each night to conserve energy, drastically lowering its metabolic rate and body temperature. Foraging primarily involves hovering to extract nectar from large, robust flowers like...
The Andean Hillstar boasts a wide distribution across the high Andes of South America, extending from southern Peru through Bolivia and northern Chile, into northwestern Argentina. Its presence is strongly tied to the treeless puna and altiplano regions, generally found at elevations between 3,00...
Least Concern
- The Andean Hillstar is one of the highest-dwelling hummingbirds in the world, regularly found above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) and sometimes over 5,000 meters. - To survive freezing Andean nights, this species routinely enters a state of deep torpor, lowering its body temperature dramatically a...