HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES

Gorgeted Woodstar

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chaetocercus heliodor

The Gorgeted Woodstar is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees.

It is one of the smallest birds native to South America, measuring a total length of 2.7 inches. This tiny bird is 7 cm (2.7 in) in total length, making it one of the smallest birds native to South .

It is dark shining green above with a short white postocular stripe and white patch on the sides of the lower back extending to the lower flanks.

Males have a glittering pinkish violet gorget and has elongated, pointed sides that hang around the throat. The white pectoral collar is less evident than in other woodstars. Breast is grayish and belly is blue-green. Tail is forked and fairly short, with a spiky, narrow appearance.

Females are similar overall but lack the gorget and brighter coloration. There is limited overlap in the wild with the Little Woodstar but the female of that species is superficially indistinguishable from this one.

Diet consists of nectar and insects which are hawked aerially.

Subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and heavily degraded former forest. Favors forested areas highly but can be seen at flowering trees in gardens and in semi-open.

Found in Colombia and Venezuela, and also has an isolated population in Ecuador.

They make a cup-shaped nest.

SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://www.birdforum.net
https://ebird.org