Coeligena phalerata
The White-tailed Starfrontlet, Coeligena phalerata, is a striking medium-sized hummingbird endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains of northern Colombia. Males are particularly resplendent, showcasing an iridescent green body, a glittering violet-purple crown that shimmers with varying hues depending on the light, and a diagnostic, contrasting white tail, often tipped with dusky outer feathers. A small, bright white postocular spot and a tiny white flank spot further aid in identification. Female...
Found exclusively in humid montane forests, forest edges, and clearings with flowering plants within its restricted range. It typically inhabits elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters, occasionally descending to 900 meters.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with deep corollas, supplemented by small insects and spiders. It forages by hovering delicately to probe flowers and gleaning insects from foliage or by catching them in mid-air.
White-tailed Starfrontlets are primarily solitary birds, known for aggressively defending rich patches of flowering plants from conspecifics and other hummingbird species. They employ both trap-lining (visiting a circuit of flowers in a regular pattern) and territorial defense strategies for fora...
The White-tailed Starfrontlet possesses one of the most restricted ranges among South American hummingbirds, being entirely endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains in northern Colombia. This compact, isolated massif rises directly from the Caribbean coast, creating a unique ecological island. Within...
Least Concern
- The White-tailed Starfrontlet is a true endemic, found only in the isolated Santa Marta Mountains of northern Colombia, making it a highly sought-after species for birders. - Its dazzling, iridescent purple crown can appear blue, green, or even deep red depending on the angle of sunlight. - The...