Emerald-bellied Puffleg

About the Emerald-bellied Puffleg

The emerald-bellied puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in the subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The emerald-bellied puffleg has two subspecies, the nominate E. a. aline and E. a. dybowskii. It is closely related to the colorful puffleg (E. mirabilis) and they have variously been deemed sister species or superspecies. However, one author has suggested that because their plumage is so different from that of other Eriocnemis pufflegs that they should have their own genus.

The emerald-bellied puffleg is the smallest puffleg. It is 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs 4.0 to 4.5 g (0.14 to 0.16 oz). It has a straight black bill. The male of the nominate subspecies has dark shining green upperparts with a narrow glittering bluish green forehead. It has a large white patch with green spots on its upper breast and the rest of the underparts are glittering bluish green. The tail is short and slightly forked; it is green with a markedly iridescent underside. The female is similar but without the bluish green forehead; its wings and tail are somewhat... Wikipedia →