Eriocnemis isabellae
The Gorgeted Puffleg (Eriocnemis isabellae) is a critically endangered and strikingly beautiful hummingbird, first scientifically described in 2007 from the remote cloud forests of southwestern Colombia. This small avian jewel measures approximately 9-10 cm (3.5-4 inches) in length, characterized by its brilliant emerald green plumage that shimmers intensely in suitable light. Males boast a distinctive, glittering violet-blue gorget – a patch of iridescent feathers on the throat – which contr...
This species exclusively inhabits humid, high-altitude cloud forests, often favoring forest edges and disturbed areas with Chusquea bamboo thickets. It typically occurs at elevations ranging between 2,600 and 3,200 meters (8,500-10,500 feet) above sea level.
Primarily consumes nectar from a variety of small, tubular flowers, with a particular preference for plants in the Ericaceae family, Fuchsia, and Gesneriaceae. It supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, captured through aerial hawking or gleaning from foliage.
Due to its extreme rarity and remote habitat, detailed behavioral studies of the Gorgeted Puffleg are limited, yet observations suggest typical hummingbird activities adapted to its specific niche. These diurnal birds are highly active during daylight hours, constantly flitting between flowering ...
The Gorgeted Puffleg possesses one of the most geographically restricted ranges of any bird species globally, being strictly endemic to a single mountain ridge in the Serranía del Pinche, Cauca Department, in southwestern Colombia. Its entire known distribution is confined to a tiny area, approxi...
Critically Endangered
- The Gorgeted Puffleg was only scientifically described in 2007, making it one of the most recently discovered bird species. - Its known population is estimated to be fewer than 250 mature individuals, placing it among the world's most critically endangered birds. - The species is named for its ...