The buff-tailed coronet is a species of hummingbird in the 'Brilliants' tribe Heliantheini, within the subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests, forest edges, and secondary growth of Colombia, Ecuador, and the Venezuelan Andes. It uses light gaps, clearings with flowering shrubs, and forested ravines rich in epiphytes. The species also visits gardens and feeders in montane towns and rural areas. It forages from the understory to mid- and canopy levels, especially where tubular flowers are abundant.
Altitude Range
1200–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The buff-tailed coronet is a robust Andean hummingbird noted for its conspicuous buff-colored tail and fluffy white leg puffs. It is often dominant at flowering shrubs and feeders, aggressively driving away other hummingbirds. This species favors humid montane forests and edges, where it alternates between hovering and frequent short perches. Despite its glittering appearance, its vocalizations are mostly sharp chips and dry trills rather than complex songs.
Temperament
aggressive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering and quick darting sallies
Social Behavior
Typically solitary when foraging and strongly territorial at rich flower patches and feeders. Males often chase intruders vigorously. Nesting involves a small cup of plant down bound with spider silk, placed on sheltered branches or banks. Clutch size is usually two eggs, with the female handling incubation and chick care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are sharp, metallic chips and dry trills delivered from concealed perches. It also gives rapid chatter during aggressive interactions. Overall, the species is more buzzy and ticking than musical.
Plumage
Compact, glittering green to bronzy-green body with a contrasting buff to rufous tail and buffy undertail coverts; wings dusky with rufous tones at the base. Fluffy white leg puffs typical of coronets. Both sexes similar, with subtle variation in brightness.
Diet
Primarily feeds on nectar from tubular flowers of shrubs, epiphytes, and small trees. Also takes small insects and spiders for protein, often by hawking or gleaning from foliage. At feeders it drinks sugar-water and may dominate other hummingbirds. It defends high-reward flower clumps but will also follow short traplines between blooms.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, clearings, and within cloud-forest understory to mid-story where flowering plants are concentrated. Frequently visits gardens and hummingbird feeders in montane settlements.
