Boissonneaua flavescens
The Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens) is a resplendent medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring around 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing between 5.5-8 grams. Its plumage is a striking combination of bronzy-green on the upperparts, transitioning to coppery-rufous on the underparts, most notably across the belly and flanks, giving it a warm, earthy glow. A key field mark for identification is its prominent, distinctively buff-colored tail, which often appears pal...
This species primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, often frequenting clearings and bushy areas, particularly near streams. It thrives at elevations typically ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters (4,900-9,800 feet), occasionally venturing...
The primary diet consists of nectar, extracted by hovering from various tubular flowers, especially those of Gesneriaceae and Ericaceae families. It also gleans small arthropods from foliage and occasionally catches them in flight.
Buff-tailed Coronets are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects. They often engage in 'traplining,' visiting a series of flower patches in a consistent circuit, though males can also be highly territorial, aggressively defending rich flower sources from oth...
The Buff-tailed Coronet is a resident species found exclusively in the Andes Mountains of South America, spanning across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its distribution is generally continuous within suitable montane habitats throughout this range, without significant migratory movements. In Colomb...
Least Concern
- The Buff-tailed Coronet's distinctive buff leg tufts are thought to play a role in display or possibly insulation in its cold, high-altitude habitat. - Unlike many hummingbirds with brilliant iridescent gorgets, the Buff-tailed Coronet's beauty lies more in its rich coppery-rufous underparts an...