Coeligena iris
The Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) is a breathtakingly vibrant hummingbird endemic to the high Andes, celebrated for its spectacular iridescent plumage. Males typically measure 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in) in length and weigh 8-10 grams, featuring a glistening green body, a striking fiery orange-red gorget, and a violet-blue crown that shimmers with every turn. A distinctive white post-ocular spot contrasts sharply with its dark head, while its deeply forked tail is dark with rufous or bronze...
Found primarily in humid montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges of the Andes, typically at elevations between 2,000 to 3,500 meters, though sometimes lower or higher.
Their diet consists mainly of nectar from various flowering plants, often specializing in those with long corollas, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein, caught mid-air or gleaned from foliage.
Rainbow Starfrontlets are primarily diurnal, active during daylight hours, but enter torpor at night or during cold periods to conserve energy. They are highly territorial, with males often perching conspicuously to defend prime feeding areas and engaging in aggressive aerial chases with intruder...
The Rainbow Starfrontlet is a resident species, endemic to the Andes mountains of southern Ecuador and northern to central Peru. Its distribution in Ecuador is restricted to the Loja Province, extending southward into various provinces across Peru, including Cajamarca, Piura, Amazonas, La Liberta...
Least Concern
- The 'starfrontlet' in its name refers to the iridescent, often star-like patch of feathers on its forehead or crown. - Rainbow Starfrontlets regularly enter a state of torpor at night, significantly lowering their body temperature and metabolic rate to survive cold Andean nights. - Their long, ...