Shining Sunbeam
Aglaeactis cupripennis
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderApodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
- FamilyTrochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- GenusAglaeactis (Sunbeams)
- SpeciesAglaeactis cupripennis (Shining Sunbeam)
About the Shining Sunbeam
The shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. As of 2022, the shining sunbeam had two recognized subspecies, the nominate A. c. cupripennis and A. c. caumatonota. In the past the species had been subdivided into as many as six subspecies. In addition, what is now the purple-backed sunbeam (A. aliciae) has also been treated as a subspecies of shining sunbeam.
The shining sunbeam is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. Males weigh 7.6 to 8.1 g (0.27 to 0.29 oz) and females 6.9 to 7.5 g (0.24 to 0.26 oz). Both sexes have a short, straight, black bill. Unique among sunbeams, neither sex has any white plumage. Males of the nominate subspecies have a dark brown crown and upper back; their lower back and rump are lilac-gold becoming silvery green on the uppertail coverts. Their tail feathers are dark brown to rufous, usually with bronzy edges. Their throat is rufous dotted with dusky gray, the breast a patchy buff, and the belly reddish brown. From north to south, the male's underparts become brighter, the crown... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Shining Sunbeam in Puracé National Natural Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Puracé National Natural Park
Sparkling Violetear
Colibri coruscans
Tyrian Metaltail
Metallura tyrianthina
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Lesbia nuna
Red-billed Emerald
Chlorostilbon gibsoni
Speckled Hummingbird
Adelomyia melanogenys
Tourmaline Sunangel
Heliangelus exortis
Long-tailed Sylph
Aglaiocercus kingii
Viridian Metaltail
Metallura williami
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Coeligena lutetiae
White-bellied Woodstar
Chaetocercus mulsant
Collared Inca
Coeligena torquata
Bronzy Inca
Coeligena coeligena
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 | Huascarán National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 3 | Cajas National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 4 | Puracé National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 5 | Chingaza National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 7 | Farallones de Cali National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Shining Sunbeam in Puracé National Natural Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Shining Sunbeam sighting in Puracé National Natural Park, based on 98 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Shining Sunbeam in Puracé National Natural Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Shining Sunbeam in Puracé National Natural Park in our monthly data.