Greenish Puffleg

Overview

The greenish puffleg (Haplophaedia aureliae) is a species of hummingbird classified within the 'brilliants' tribe. It is currently assessed by the IUCN as being of Least Concern, with a population believed to be stable across its range.

Identification

• Small hummingbird measuring 9 to 11.6 cm in length and weighing 4 to 6.5 g, with a slightly forked blue-black tail.
• Males of the nominate subspecies feature green upperparts with a coppery hue on the head and neck, while underparts are duller green with a grayish white scaly appearance.
• Distinctive leg puffs are white on the outside and buff on the inside in males, but entirely white in females.
• Males sing a repetitive double-noted 'tur seet' or 'tskut' from high perches.

Habitat

The species is distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru, though its inclusion in Peru is debated by some taxonomic authorities. Its subspecies occupy specific regions ranging from extreme eastern Panama and Cerro Pire to the Western, Central, and Eastern Andes of Colombia, and the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorean Andes extending into Peru.

Diet

This species forages primarily for nectar in the lower levels of the forest but ascends to the canopy to feed at flowering Inga trees. It is territorial and actively defends clusters of flowers, supplementing its nectar diet by gleaning insects from leaves.

Did you know?

The female constructs a cup nest made of moss and cobwebs lined with fine plant material, suspending it below a large leaf to provide protection from rain, typically within about 2 metres of the ground.