Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus
The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is a stunning and recently described hummingbird species, endemic to the high Andes of southern Ecuador. Males are instantly recognizable by their dazzling, iridescent violet-blue gorget, which contrasts sharply with their otherwise emerald-green upperparts and white underparts bisected by a prominent dark central streak. Females share the green upperparts but possess a duller, mottled throat and underparts, showcasing marked sexual dimor...
This hillstar inhabits high-altitude *páramo* grasslands and stunted cloud forest edges, typically in ravines and near rocky outcrops. It thrives in elevations between 2,800 to 3,700 meters (9,200 to 12,100 feet) where specific flowering plants are available.
The primary diet consists of nectar, particularly from high-altitude flowering plants such as *Puya* bromeliads, *Chuquiraga*, *Brachyotum*, and *Centropogon*. Small insects and spiders provide essential protein and are gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Blue-throated Hillstars are diurnal, spending their days foraging actively and defending territories, likely entering a state of torpor nightly to conserve energy in the frigid high-altitude conditions. Foraging involves hovering expertly to extract nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented by gl...
The Blue-throated Hillstar boasts an incredibly restricted geographic distribution, known exclusively from a handful of isolated localities within the high Andes of southern Ecuador. Its confirmed range includes specific areas in Loja and El Oro provinces, notably around Cerro de Arcos, Paso de C...
Critically Endangered
- Discovered as recently as 2017, making it one of the newest avian species identified in the 21st century. - It is known from only a few fragmented localities in southern Ecuador, making its range one of the most restricted of any bird. - The male's iridescent violet-blue gorget is unique among ...