The many-spotted hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Argentina.
Region
Andean foothills and western Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Found on the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjacent lowlands in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, with possible occurrence in far northwestern Argentina. It inhabits humid foothill and lowland forests, forest edges, and tall second growth. The species favors areas with abundant flowering plants along rivers, landslides, and light gaps. It also visits gardens and clearings near forest in some regions. Local abundance varies with flowering cycles and resource availability.
Altitude Range
200–1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This medium-sized hummingbird is named for the dense dark spotting across its whitish underparts, a field mark that sets it apart from many emerald-green relatives. It frequents forest edges, clearings, and second growth on the east slope of the Andes. Individuals often visit flowering shrubs and trees such as Inga and Heliconia and will defend rich nectar sources. Despite bright upperparts, it can be inconspicuous, giving thin, high-pitched calls from shaded perches.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering; quick darting between flowers
Social Behavior
Typically forages alone and males defend rich nectar patches against other hummingbirds. Courtship occurs near feeding territories, and breeding involves a small cup nest of plant fibers and spider silk placed on horizontal branches. The female alone incubates two white eggs and raises the young. Outside breeding, individuals may follow loose trap-lines between flowering trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched tseet or tzip notes and rapid twitters delivered from semi-concealed perches. Songs are simple and intermittent, often overshadowed by the persistent wing hum during close-range hovering.
Plumage
Upperparts shimmering green to bronze-green with a slightly darker crown; underparts whitish to buffy heavily spotted with dark greenish or dusky markings from throat to belly. Tail bronze-green with pale or grayish tips; wings dusky. Overall feathering is sleek with a subtle iridescent sheen on the upperparts.
Diet
Primarily consumes nectar from a variety of tubular and brushy flowers, including Inga, Heliconia, and epiphytes. Supplements diet with small arthropods for protein, especially during nesting, taken by sallying from perches or gleaning from foliage. Will defend high-value nectar sources but also practices trap-lining between scattered flowering plants.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, riverbanks, landslides, and light gaps where flowering shrubs and trees are abundant. Also forages in secondary growth and occasionally in gardens adjacent to forest.
