Diglossa humeralis
The enigmatic Black Flowerpiercer (*Diglossa humeralis*) is a small, striking passerine endemic to the high Andes of South America. Males are typically glossy black with a subtle, dull blue-gray patch on the shoulder (humeral region, giving the species its name), while females and juveniles are a more sooty or dull black. Its most distinctive feature is its specialized bill: sharply upturned, hooked at the tip, and pale blue-gray at the base, perfectly adapted for nectar robbing. Measuring ap...
High-altitude montane cloud forests, humid forest edges, scrub, and disturbed areas, typically found between 1800-3000 meters above sea level.
Primarily nectar, especially from tubular flowers, obtained through its unique 'piercing' technique, complemented by small insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
A diurnal and active bird, the Black Flowerpiercer usually forages solitarily or in pairs, though it may occasionally join mixed-species flocks. Its primary foraging strategy is 'nectar robbing': using its specialized bill to pierce the base of flower corollas to access nectar without entering th...
Endemic to the Andes mountains of South America, the Black Flowerpiercer's range extends from northern and central Colombia, south through the inter-Andean valleys and western slope of Ecuador, reaching into extreme northern Peru (departments of Cajamarca and Piura). This species is resident thro...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name, *humeralis*, refers to the 'shoulder,' as some males exhibit a subtle gray-blue patch on their wing shoulder. - The Black Flowerpiercer is a classic 'nectar robber,' using its specialized bill to puncture flower bases instead of entering the flower normally to access nectar...