The Coppery-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis cupreoventris) is a species of hummingbird found in Ecuador and Colombia. With its distinctive copper-colored underside, it is one of the most striking members of the puffleg genus Eriocnemis.
Description
The Coppery-bellied Puffleg is a medium-sized hummingbird, measuring around 11-12 cm in length. The male has an iridescent golden-green throat and head, with a blackish-brown back. The defining feature is the male’s reddish-coppery colored underparts, for which the species is named. The female is similar but has greener underparts. Both sexes have white leg puffs, a characteristic of the puffleg genus. The long bill is slightly decurved.
Distribution and Habitat
The Coppery-bellied Puffleg is endemic to cloud forests in the Andes mountains of Ecuador and Colombia. Its range extends from southwestern Colombia to central Ecuador. It occurs at elevations between 1800-3000 m above sea level.
The preferred habitat is cloud forest and elfin forest vegetation with an abundance of flowering plants. It tends to forage along forest edges and in open areas.
Feeding
Like all hummingbirds, the Coppery-bellied Puffleg feeds on nectar taken from a variety of flowering plants, including epiphytic Ericaceae and bromeliads. It uses its specialized long, curved bill to reach nectar at the base of long tubular flowers.
The Coppery-bellied Puffleg also takes small insects as an essential source of protein. Aerial insects are captured during flight. By moving slowly through vegetation, it is able to pick insects off of leaves and branches.
Reproduction
Breeding activities peaks during the rainy season between April and August. The female constructs a tiny cup nest out of plant fibers, bonding it to a vertical stem with spider webs. She lays two small white eggs. Incubation lasts 15-19 days.
The chicks hatch with their eyes closed and minimal feathering. Both parents share responsibility for feeding the chicks with regurgitated insects and nectar. The chicks fledge at approximately 20-23 days old.
Conservation Status
The Coppery-bellied Puffleg is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss from deforestation poses the biggest threat. Expanding agriculture and logging are encroaching on its cloud forest habitat. Climate change is also a concern, as rising temperatures could cause the species to lose elevation range.
Fortunately, some of its range falls within protected areas like Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador. Further preservation of intact cloud forest habitats will be crucial for protecting the Coppery-bellied Puffleg and other endemic Andean birds.
Interesting Facts
– The genus name Eriocnemis is derived from the Greek words ‘erion’ meaning wool and ‘knemis’ meaning leg, referencing the puffy white leg feathers.
– The Coppery-bellied Puffleg is the only hummingbird in its range to have a distinctly reddish-colored belly. This unique trait likely serves as visual signaling to attract mates.
– Like many Andean hummingbirds, the Coppery-bellied Puffleg enters a state of torpor at night to conserve energy. This is akin to short-term hibernation.
– The long bill of the Coppery-bellied Puffleg is an adaptation to feed from long tubular flowers, called ‘nectar robbing’. Other hummingbirds cannot reach the nectar in these flowers.
– Young Coppery-bellied Pufflegs have a duller plumage than adults. It takes around a year to attain full adult coloring.
In summary, the rare Coppery-bellied Puffleg is a unique and threatened hummingbird endemic to the cloud forests of the Ecuadorian and Colombian Andes. Protecting these fragile mountain ecosystems will be key to preserving this striking bird along with numerous other localized species. With proper habitat conservation, the Coppery-bellied Puffleg can continue to brighten the cloud forests with its glittering copper plumage.