Purple-backed Thornbill
Ramphomicron microrhynchum
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusRamphomicron (Dark-backed Thornbills)
- SpeciesRamphomicron microrhynchum (Purple-backed Thornbill)
About the Purple-backed Thornbill
The purple-backed thornbill (Ramphomicron microrhynchum) is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The purple-backed thornbill shares its genus with the black-backed thornbill (R. dorsale). It has these four subspecies:
R. m. andicola Simon (1921) R. m. microrhynchum Boissonneau (1840) R. m. albiventre Carriker (1935) R. m. bolivianum Schuchmann (1984) Subspecies R. m. andicola and R. m. albiventre "are doubtfully distinct from [the] nominate."
The purple-backed thornbill is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs about 3.5 g (0.12 oz). Both sexes have a black bill, the shortest of any hummingbird. Males of the nominate subspecies have metallic violet-purple upperparts with a white spot behind the eye. Their gorget is iridescent golden green, the underparts bronzy green, and the undertail coverts coppery with tawny fringes. The tail is moderately long, forked, and dark purple. Nominate females have shining green upperparts, and like the male, a white spot behind the eye. Their underparts are white with green dots except on the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Purple-backed Thornbill in Cajas National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cajas National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Nevados National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 2 | Chingaza National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 3 | Puracé National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Cajas National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 5 | Farallones de Cali National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Purple-backed Thornbill in Cajas National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple-backed Thornbill sighting in Cajas National Park, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Purple-backed Thornbill in Cajas National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Purple-backed Thornbill in Cajas National Park in our monthly data.