Chlorostilbon olivaresi
The Chiribiquete Emerald (Chlorostilbon olivaresi) is a captivating and recently described hummingbird, endemic to the remote tepuis of south-central Colombia. Males boast a brilliant metallic green plumage, shimmering with a blue-green sheen, especially noticeable on their throat, and feature a distinctively deeply forked, dark iridescent tail. Females are generally duller, with grayish-white underparts, a less pronounced tail fork, and a prominent white postocular stripe for identification....
This species primarily inhabits the stunted cloud forests, sub-montane forest edges, and scrubland vegetation atop the sandstone tepuis of the Serranía de Chiribiquete, at elevations generally above 800 meters.
The primary diet of the Chiribiquete Emerald consists of nectar from a variety of flowering plants found in its tepui habitat, supplemented by small insects and spiders for essential protein.
Chiribiquete Emeralds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects. They exhibit typical hummingbird foraging strategies, hovering expertly before flowers to extract nectar with their long, slender bills and sometimes catching small insects in flight. Like ma...
The Chiribiquete Emerald is strictly endemic to a highly restricted region within the Serranía de Chiribiquete in south-central Colombia. This species is resident year-round, with its entire known distribution confined to the flat-topped sandstone mountains, or tepuis, that characterize this remo...
Least Concern
- The Chiribiquete Emerald was only formally described as a distinct species in 2017, making it one of the newest avian discoveries. - It is an 'endemic specialist,' meaning it is found only in a very specific geographic area: the isolated tepuis of the Serranía de Chiribiquete in Colombia. - The...