Eriocnemis aline
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg (*Eriocnemis aline*) is a dazzling hummingbird species, renowned for its vibrant plumage and distinctive physical traits. Males are breathtaking, sporting brilliant emerald-green underparts that extend across the throat and belly, complemented by dark metallic green upperparts. A key identifying feature, and the origin of its common name, are the prominent, dense tufts of snow-white feathers on its legs, resembling tiny 'puffs'. Measuring approximately 8-9 cm (3.1-...
Found primarily in humid to very humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, and secondary growth with dense understory, often rich in mosses and epiphytes. It thrives at elevations mainly between 1,000 and 2,800 meters (3,300-9,200 ft) in the Andes.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with small, tubular flowers, and supplements this with small arthropods like insects and spiders.
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is a diurnal species, active throughout the day, and likely roosts concealed within dense vegetation at night. It is a proficient trapline feeder, systematically visiting a circuit of scattered flowers for nectar, hovering with incredible precision to extract sustenanc...
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America, with a distribution stretching from the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia, through the Andes of Ecuador, and south into the northern and central Andes of Peru. It is largely a resident species, not undertaking sig...
Least Concern
- The "puffleg" in its name refers to the distinctive, dense tufts of white feathers on its legs, a unique characteristic of the *Eriocnemis* genus. - Despite its small size, weighing only about 4-5 grams, it has an incredibly high metabolism, requiring frequent feeding throughout the day. - It c...