Taphrospilus hypostictus
The Many-spotted Hummingbird, *Taphrospilus hypostictus*, is a distinctive medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing around 4-5 grams. Its striking appearance is characterized by bronze-green upperparts contrasting with white to pale grey underparts that are densely covered in numerous bronze-green or greenish spots, giving it its evocative name and serving as its primary identification mark. The tail is dark bronzy-green, often with su...
Primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical montane forests, forest edges, and clearings, typically found at elevations between 800 and 2000 meters (2,600-6,500 feet).
Feeds primarily on nectar from a diverse array of flowering plants, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or captured in mid-air.
Like most hummingbirds, the Many-spotted Hummingbird is diurnal, actively foraging throughout the day and roosting solitarily at night. It employs both traplining, where it visits a regular circuit of favored flowers, and territorial defense, aggressively guarding particularly rich patches of nec...
The Many-spotted Hummingbird is a resident species found exclusively in the Andes mountain range of South America, primarily within a contiguous belt extending from southern Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, and south into northern and central Bolivia. Its distribution is closely tied to the hu...
Least Concern
- It is the sole species in its genus, *Taphrospilus*, making it evolutionarily unique among hummingbirds. - Unlike many hummingbird species, both male and female Many-spotted Hummingbirds share the same striking spotted plumage, exhibiting minimal sexual dimorphism. - Its scientific name, *hypos...