Rufous-gaped Hillstar

Common name: Rufous-gaped Hillstar
Scientific name: Urochroa bougueri
Clades: Heliantheini - Brilliants

The Rufous-gaped hillstar is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long including its approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) bill. It weighs 8.5 to 12.5 g (0.30 to 0.44 oz).

The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is a large, dark-colored hummingbird with a long bill that inhabits the northern Andes. On the upper surface, both sexes are dark coppery green, with blue breasts and throats, and gray bellies. An English term for this species would be "Rufous-gaped" because of the large rufous submoustachial stripe. The tail is also predominantly white, although the central and outermost rectrices are dark. The Rufous-gaped Hillstar inhabits humid forests on the lower slopes of the Andes. There are not many known facts about the Rufous-gaped Hillstar, although it is quite common locally. Foraging occurs in the understory and midstory of humid montane forests, often near water, where they forage on nectar and aerial insects.

Distribution Pacific slope of Andes of SW Colombia (from S Chocó) and NW Ecuador (S to Pichincha).