The blue-bearded helmetcrest is a Critically Endangered species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of northern Colombia.
Region
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Typical Environment
Occurs only in high-elevation páramo above treeline, using open shrublands, rocky slopes, and patches of dwarf shrubs and rosette plants (frailejones). It forages along edges of elfin forest and in floristically rich gullies where nectar sources are concentrated. The species is highly localized, tracking blooming plants across small areas. Habitat quality is affected by burning for pasture and by human disturbance, fragmenting suitable foraging patches.
Altitude Range
3000–4800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This striking hummingbird was rediscovered in 2015 after going unrecorded for decades and is confined to the high páramo of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. Males show a brilliant blue throat “beard” and a spiky helmet-like crest that gives the species its name. Its survival is tightly linked to flowering cycles of páramo plants and is threatened by fire and habitat degradation.
Illustrated by J. G. Keulemans
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly, defending rich nectar patches from other hummingbirds. Males display by hovering and showing the beard and crest. Nests are small cups of plant fibers and spider silk placed low in shrubs or sheltered clumps.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and buzzy trills given during foraging and territorial chases. Wing hum is pronounced at close range, adding a mechanical buzz to its call notes.
