Leucippus fallax
The Buffy Hummingbird, *Leucippus fallax*, is a distinctive member of the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, characterized by its relatively subdued, earthy plumage. Measuring approximately 8.5 to 9.5 cm (3.3-3.7 inches) in length and weighing 4-5 grams, its most striking feature is its overall pale cinnamon-buff underparts, which contrast gently with its dull bronze-green upperparts. Unlike many of its iridescent relatives, this species lacks a prominent gorget, making its namesake buffy color...
Primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid lowlands, including dry scrub, thorn forest, open woodlands, and even suburban gardens, typically at elevations below 500 meters, occasionally up to 1000 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with long, tubular blossoms; supplements its diet with small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Buffy Hummingbirds are highly active during daylight hours, exhibiting a trapline foraging strategy where individuals repeatedly visit a circuit of scattered flowering plants, demonstrating spatial memory. Males are known to establish and fiercely defend feeding territories around rich nectar sou...
The Buffy Hummingbird is primarily distributed across northern South America, with a significant presence in Colombia and Venezuela, extending slightly into eastern Panama. In Colombia, it is found along the Caribbean coast, through the lower and middle Magdalena River valley, and into the arid i...
Least Concern
- The 'buffy' coloration, referring to its pale cinnamon-buff underparts, is its most defining characteristic, making it stand out among many brightly iridescent hummingbirds. - Unlike most hummingbirds, the Buffy Hummingbird lacks a prominent iridescent gorget, relying instead on its unique body...