Oreonympha nobilis
The Bearded Mountaineer (Oreonympha nobilis) is a spectacular and distinctive hummingbird, endemic to the high-altitude Andes of Peru. Averaging 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in) in length, including its exceptionally long, deeply forked tail, and weighing around 8-9 grams, it is a medium-sized hummingbird. Males are particularly striking, boasting an iridescent emerald green body, a long bronze-green central tail, and perhaps most notably, a vibrant violet-purple gorget that forms a prominent 'beard' or...
This specialized hummingbird inhabits high-altitude dry montane scrub, arid slopes, and Polylepis woodlands in the Andes, typically found between 2,500 and 4,000 meters (8,200-13,100 feet) above sea level.
Their diet primarily consists of nectar from various high-Andean flowering plants, supplemented by small arthropods caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Bearded Mountaineers are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and defending territories, often roosting in sheltered locations during the cold Andean nights, sometimes entering torpor to conserve energy. Their foraging strategy primarily involves trap-lining, where individuals visit a c...
The Bearded Mountaineer is strictly endemic to the inter-Andean valleys and slopes of central and southern Peru, where it is a year-round resident. Its distribution extends across several Peruvian departments, including La Libertad, Ancash, Huánuco, Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, and Cu...
Least Concern
- The male's 'beard' is actually a magnificent gorget of elongated, iridescent violet-purple feathers, one of the most striking adornments in the hummingbird family. - It is one of the highest-dwelling hummingbirds, often found at elevations exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) in the Peruvian An...