Boissonneaua matthewsii
The Chestnut-breasted Coronet, *Boissonneaua matthewsii*, is a striking medium-sized hummingbird of the high Andes, typically measuring 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 in) in length and weighing 7-9 grams. Its most distinctive field mark is the rich, rufous-chestnut plumage covering its entire breast and belly, contrasting sharply with its iridescent green back and head. A glittering emerald-green crown and a prominent white post-ocular spot further aid identification. The species sports a straight, relati...
Found primarily in high-altitude humid cloud forests and their edges, scrub, and secondary growth within the Andean mountains, typically between 2,000 and 3,700 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants (e.g., Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae, Bromeliaceae) and supplements this with small arthropods caught in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
Active during daylight hours, the Chestnut-breasted Coronet is a solitary and highly territorial hummingbird. It employs a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a circuit of various flowering plants for nectar, often aggressively defending prime flower patches from other hummingbirds and even...
The Chestnut-breasted Coronet is a resident species, primarily found in the high-altitude Andean cloud forests of southern Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. In Colombia, its distribution includes the Andes of Nariño department, extending southward. Throughout Ecuador, it is widespread in both...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Boissonneaua' honors French ornithologist Auguste Boissonneau. - Its species name 'matthewsii' pays tribute to the British naturalist Andrew Matthews. - Unlike many hummingbirds with iridescent gorgets, its primary identification feature is the striking chestnut coloration of it...