Urochroa bougueri
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) is a striking, medium-sized hummingbird found in the high Andes, measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5-5.5 inches) in length and weighing 8-10 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a dull, dark metallic green, with a distinctive bright white post-ocular spot contrasting sharply with its head. The most remarkable and eponymous field mark is the deep rufous-orange coloration at the gape (the corner of the mouth), visible even when the bill is closed. It...
This hillstar primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical montane cloud forests, forest borders, and the edges of paramo, typically found at elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 meters (6,500-11,500 feet).
The diet consists primarily of nectar from a variety of flowers, particularly those from the Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Rubiaceae families, supplemented with small arthropods gleaned from vegetation or hawked in mid-air.
Rufous-gaped Hillstars are diurnal, highly active during daylight hours, feeding on nectar and small insects, and likely roosting in sheltered vegetation at night. They exhibit a foraging strategy that includes both traplining, visiting a circuit of scattered flowers, and territorial defense of r...
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is a resident species found exclusively in the northern Andes of South America. Its distribution spans from southern Colombia, primarily in the departments of Nariño and Cauca, south through the entire length of Ecuador. The range extends marginally into extreme northern...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-gaped Hillstar's bright rufous-orange gape is one of the most distinctive and unique facial markings among all hummingbird species. - It is a high-altitude specialist, thriving in the cool, humid cloud forests of the Andes. - Despite its relatively dull green plumage, the white post-...