Avocettula recurvirostris
The Fiery-tailed Awlbill (Avocettula recurvirostris) is a breathtakingly vibrant hummingbird endemic to the cloud forests of the northern Andes. Measuring a diminutive 10-12 cm in length and weighing a mere 4-6 grams, its most striking feature is a brilliant, iridescent scarlet tail that flares dramatically during flight and courtship displays, contrasting with its metallic green body. Its distinctive recurved, awl-shaped bill, typically 2.5-3 cm long and slightly upturned at the tip, is a un...
Primarily inhabiting humid, moss-laden montane cloud forests and forest edges. Typically found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
Primarily nectar from deep, tubular flowers, complemented by small insects and spiders for protein. Forages by hovering at flowers or hawking insects mid-air.
Fiery-tailed Awlbills are diurnal, actively foraging from dawn until dusk, often retreating to dense undergrowth or sheltered crevices for roosting. Their foraging strategy is highly specialized; they meticulously probe deep-throated flowers using their uniquely recurved bill, often hovering for ...
The Fiery-tailed Awlbill is endemic to the humid montane cloud forests of the northern Andes, with its primary distribution spanning western Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. Its breeding and overwintering ranges largely overlap, as it is a resident species, though some populations undertake ...
Near Threatened
- The Fiery-tailed Awlbill's recurved bill is perfectly adapted to pollinate specific Heliconia and Passiflora species with similarly curved corollas, showcasing a remarkable co-evolutionary relationship. - During courtship, the male's iridescent scarlet tail can reach temperatures slightly above...