Eriocnemis mosquera
The Golden-breasted Puffleg (*Eriocnemis mosquera*) is a dazzling medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing 4.5-5.5 grams. Males are characterized by their brilliant iridescent emerald green plumage, set off by a striking bright golden-yellow patch on the breast and a deeply forked, blackish-blue tail. Both sexes sport the genus-defining fluffy white leg puffs, which are dense feather tufts that resemble snowballs. Females are generally sim...
Found primarily in humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, and clearings in the Andes, typically at elevations between 2,200 and 3,300 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented by small arthropods (insects and spiders) caught in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
Golden-breasted Pufflegs are diurnal, most active during the cooler parts of the day. They employ a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants for nectar, and also hawk small insects in flight or glean them from foliage. Males are highly territorial, aggressiv...
The Golden-breasted Puffleg is a resident species endemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes in Colombia and north-central Ecuador. In Colombia, it is found across the Western, Central, and Eastern Cordilleras, ranging from the departments of Nariño and Cauca north through Valle del Cauca,...
Least Concern
- The 'puffleg' in its name refers to the prominent, dense white feather tufts on its legs, a characteristic feature of the *Eriocnemis* genus. - Its scientific name, *mosquera*, honors Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, a significant Colombian general and four-time president. - Like all hummingbirds, i...