Oreotrochilus chimborazo
The Ecuadorian Hillstar, *Oreotrochilus chimborazo*, is a striking high-altitude hummingbird, perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of the Andean páramo. Males are resplendent, boasting an iridescent violet or purple gorget framed by a prominent black breast band, contrasting with a gleaming white belly and rufous undertail coverts. Their back is a muted bronzy-green, and the tail is dark with white outer rectrices. Females are less flamboyant, lacking the gorget and breast band, instead ...
This specialized hummingbird inhabits high-altitude páramo and puna grasslands, often among rocky outcrops and low shrubs above the treeline. It thrives in elevations typically ranging from 3,500 to 5,200 meters (11,500 to 17,000 feet) near the snow line.
Primarily feeds on nectar from high-altitude flowering plants such as *Puya* and *Chuquiraga*, supplemented by small insects and spiders caught while hovering or gleaning.
The Ecuadorian Hillstar is a diurnal and highly territorial bird, with males vigorously defending prime feeding sites and nesting areas. To cope with nightly sub-freezing temperatures, it enters a state of torpor, drastically reducing its metabolic rate and body temperature, often roosting in she...
The Ecuadorian Hillstar is resident throughout the high-altitude Andes of Ecuador, with its range extending marginally into southern Colombia and northern Peru. It occupies vast páramo and puna ecosystems, typically found between 3,500 and 5,200 meters (11,500-17,000 feet) elevation, often near g...
Least Concern
- The Ecuadorian Hillstar can endure some of the coldest temperatures of any hummingbird, often found just below the permanent snowline of Andean volcanoes. - To survive frigid nights, this species enters a state of torpor, a deep sleep where its body temperature drops significantly, saving preci...