Diglossa lafresnayii
The Glossy Flowerpiercer (Diglossa lafresnayii) is a striking passerine belonging to the tanager family (Thraupidae), instantly recognizable by its deep, iridescent purplish-black plumage that shimmers with a glossy sheen in good light. Measuring approximately 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing 14.5-20 grams, this small songbird possesses a distinctive, upturned, needle-sharp bill with a prominent hook on the maxilla, perfectly adapted for its unique feeding strategy. Its most cap...
Humid montane cloud forests, forest borders, and dense secondary growth in high-elevation Andean regions, typically between 1,800 and 3,000 meters (5,900-9,800 feet) above sea level.
Primarily nectar, which they access by piercing flower corollas; they also supplement their diet with small arthropods and insects gleaned from foliage.
Glossy Flowerpiercers are diurnal and highly active foragers, spending their days meticulously exploring flowering plants. Their primary foraging strategy involves using their specialized bill to pierce the base of flower corollas, extracting nectar without entering the flower, thus often bypassi...
The Glossy Flowerpiercer is a resident species found exclusively in the northern and central Andes of South America. Its primary range extends from the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia, south through the mountains of Ecuador, and into the northern regions of Peru. Within this distribution, i...
Least Concern
- The Glossy Flowerpiercer's scientific name honors French ornithologist and collector Frédéric de Lafresnaye. - Its distinctive hooked, upturned bill is a marvel of evolutionary adaptation, allowing it to act as a 'nectar thief' by piercing flower bases rather than entering the blossom. - Despit...