The Ecuadorian hillstar or Chimborazo hillstar is a species of hummingbird. It is native to the Andes of Ecuador and extreme southern Colombia. Its main habitat type is high-altitude mountain grassland between 3500 and 5200 meters.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Found in the high Andes of Ecuador with limited occurrence in extreme southern Colombia. It occupies open páramo, rocky slopes, and volcanic grasslands where hardy shrubs bloom. The species is closely associated with Chuquiraga-dominated scrub and also uses edges of Polylepis woodland. Nests and day roosts are often in cliffs, rock walls, or earthen banks that provide shelter from wind and cold.
Altitude Range
3500–5200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Chimborazo hillstar, this hummingbird survives some of the coldest conditions inhabited by any hummingbird. It often perches to feed on high-Andean shrubs, conserving energy in thin, frigid air. Males vigorously defend flowering Chuquiraga shrubs, a key nectar source. Nests are tucked into rock crevices or earthen banks sheltered from wind.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent hovering; often perches to feed in wind-exposed sites
Social Behavior
Outside breeding, individuals are mostly solitary and males defend nectar-rich shrubs. Nests are placed in rock crevices or earthen banks and lined with soft plant fibers and feathers. Pairs form during the breeding season, and the female performs most nesting duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and twitters, often given from a perch near feeding territories. Song is a faint, squeaky series of notes interspersed with sharper call ticks.
