The golden-bellied starfrontlet is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia.
Region
Eastern Andes of Colombia
Typical Environment
Occupies humid montane and cloud forests, elfin forest, and shrubby páramo, especially along edges, clearings, and riparian thickets. It frequents areas with abundant tubular flowers such as Fuchsia, Siphocampylus, and Ericaceae shrubs. Secondary growth and forest borders with flowering hedges are regularly used. It is patchy but locally common where suitable nectar sources are concentrated.
Altitude Range
1800–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A medium-sized hummingbird of the brilliants (tribe Heliantheini), the golden-bellied starfrontlet is confined to Colombia’s Eastern Andes. Males defend rich flower patches vigorously and act as important pollinators of high-Andean shrubs. The sexes are strongly dimorphic, with females much duller and patterned below. It forages by hovering at tubular blossoms and supplements nectar with tiny arthropods for protein.
Temperament
territorial around rich flower patches
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with precise hovering; fast direct darts between flowers
Social Behavior
Generally solitary while foraging, but multiple birds may use the same flowering shrubs with frequent chases. Males defend territories aggressively; females typically build a small cup nest of moss and fibers on sheltered branches or banks. Breeding timing varies locally and often coincides with peaks in floral abundance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and tseet notes, interspersed with rapid metallic chatters during chases. Wing hum is audible at close range. Song per se is simple, with repeated high notes delivered from low perches or between feeding bouts.
Plumage
Male with iridescent green head and throat, a glittering forehead 'star', dusky wings and tail, and a distinctive bright golden to coppery belly; upperparts largely green with bronzy tones. Female has green upperparts, buffy to cinnamon underparts heavily spotted or scalloped with green, and lacks the intense golden sheen of the male. Both sexes have a straight, slender black bill and often a small white post-ocular spot.
Diet
Primarily nectar from tubular flowers, including Fuchsia, Siphocampylus, Bomarea, and Ericaceae such as Cavendishia. It also takes small arthropods—tiny flies, gnats, and spiders—by hawking or gleaning to obtain protein. The bird follows a loose trapline or defends a nectar-rich patch depending on resource distribution.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, clearings, and streamside thickets where flowering shrubs are dense. It also visits gardens and secondary growth with abundant blooms in montane zones.
