The sapphire-vented puffleg is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Venezuela.
Region
Northern and Central Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs along the Andes from Colombia through Ecuador into Peru, with possible outlying records in western Venezuela. It favors humid montane and cloud forests, elfin forest, and shrubby edges, especially where flowering shrubs are abundant. Birds commonly use second-growth, forest borders, and roadsides with dense flower patches. It is typically most numerous at ecotones between upper montane forest and páramo.
Altitude Range
1500–3800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A high-Andean hummingbird, the sapphire-vented puffleg is named for its glittering blue vent and the fluffy white feather 'puffs' that cloak its legs. It is an important pollinator of montane shrubs and flowers, often visiting tubular blooms at forest edges and in páramo ecotones. Birds may make short elevational movements following flower availability.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Usually forages alone and defends rich flower patches against other hummingbirds. Courtship involves aerial chases and display flights around favored perches. The nest is a small cup of plant fibers and moss, typically placed on a sheltered branch or in a shrub.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and buzzy trills, given sporadically while feeding or from a perch. Wing hum is pronounced at close range, and a dry ticking series may be heard during interactions.
