The hoary puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Western slope of the Northern Andes (Colombia and northwestern Ecuador)
Typical Environment
Occurs on humid montane forest edges, secondary growth, and along shaded ravines and streams. It uses the understory and mid-story of cloud forests and often visits flowering shrubs such as Ericaceae and other tubular-flowered plants. The species is most frequent where mature forest meets gaps or clearings, but it also persists in well-vegetated secondary habitats. Local distribution can be patchy, tracking concentrated nectar resources.
Altitude Range
900–2300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small Andean hummingbird, the hoary puffleg is named for the fluffy white 'puffs' of feathering around its legs. It favors cool, humid cloud-forest edges and ravines where tubular flowers are abundant. Like many montane specialists, it is sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. It typically forages low to mid-level in the understory and along shady streams.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically forages alone, defending favored flower patches from other hummingbirds. Courtship is subtle; males display at feeding areas and pursue females briefly. The nest is a small cup of plant fibers, moss, and spider silk placed on a sheltered branch or bank; the female alone incubates two eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, high-pitched chips and thin trills, often given while perched between foraging bouts. The calls can sound insect-like and are easily masked by stream noise in ravines.
Plumage
Frosted, hoary-looking green plumage with grayish edging, giving a finely scaled appearance; underparts dusky to gray with pale mottling. Fluffy white leg feather 'puffs' are conspicuous. Tail is slightly forked and bronze‑green.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from tubular flowers, especially in the understory of cloud forests (e.g., Ericaceae and other montane shrubs). It regularly supplements nectar with small arthropods captured by hovering gleaning or short sallies. When flowers are scarce, it increases insect intake to meet protein needs. Territorial individuals may defend rich flower patches vigorously.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, gaps, and shady stream corridors where flowering shrubs are concentrated. Often works low to mid-levels, visiting a circuit of known nectar sources.
