Hummingbirds in Colombia: little winged acrobats

The hummingbird, with its bright wings and swift flight, is one of nature’s most fascinating wonders. In Colombia, a country rich in biodiversity, these colorful little birds occupy a special place. Colombia is home to over 160 species of hummingbird, almost half of the world’s known species, making it a veritable paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

From emerald green to flamboyant red, Colombian hummingbirds come in an incredible variety of colors and sizes. They play an essential role in the ecosystem, particularly as pollinators. Their wingbeats, which can reach 80 beats per second, enable hummingbirds to hover, a feat that allows them to feed on flower nectar while pollinating plants.

To observe these creatures in their natural habitat, whether in the cloud forests of the Andes or in tropical gardens, is an unforgettable experience. Hummingbirds embody both the beauty and delicacy of Colombian nature, reminding us just how precious this country’s biodiversity is and how much it deserves to be protected.

Varieties of hummingbird species in Colombia

Colombia, located at the crossroads of Central and South America, is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world: it’s part of the famous list of megadiverse countries. With its vast tropical forests, towering mountain ranges, endless plains and coasts bordered by two oceans, Colombia offers a diversity of habitats that are home to an incredible variety of animal and plant species. This exceptional natural heritage makes Colombia a privileged destination for nature lovers and scientists from all over the world.

Colombia is particularly famous for its bird diversity: in fact, it’s the world’s leading country for ornithology! With over 1,900 bird species, it boasts the greatest avian diversity in the world. These include such marvels as the Toucan, the Harpy Eagle and the Resplendent Quetzal.

Colombia is also a veritable sanctuary for hummingbirds, home to over 160 species of these fascinating birds, almost half of the world’s known species, making Colombia THE country of hummingbirds. 17 are endemic, meaning they live nowhere else in the world. Some of these endemic species, such as the Indigo Hummingbird, are fairly common and easy to spot, especially near feeders. However, others, such as the Chiribiquete emerald, are confined to very limited areas and have rarely been captured by professional cameras.

Some notable species of hummingbirds in Colombia :

Hill hummingbird (coeligena torquata): among its many species, the Hill hummingbird, or Coeligena torquata, is one of the most emblematic of the Colombian Andes. Sporting emerald-green feathers and a dazzling white collar, this hummingbird is often seen in cloud forests, foraging for the flowers of bromeliads and orchids.

Topaz hummingbird (topaza pella): The Topaz hummingbird, or Topaza pella, is a species that lights up the rainforests of eastern Colombia with its flamboyant feathers in shades of red and gold. This hummingbird is distinguished by its relatively large size and long rectrices, which add to its majesty as it flies from flower to flower.

Coruscant Hummingbird (amazilia tzacatl): more widespread, the Coruscant Hummingbird, or Amazilia tzacatl, is found in the lower, warmer regions of Colombia. Recognizable by its gleaming throat and brilliant green plumage, this hummingbird is an inhabitant of tropical gardens and riverbanks, where it plays a crucial role in pollinating local plants.

Golden-necked Inca (coeligena bonapartei): coeligena bonapartei, or the Golden-necked Inca, is another jewel of the Colombian Andes. This high-altitude hummingbird is distinguished by its bright golden throat and agile flight. It is often seen in nature reserves, particularly around Bogotá.

Multicolored Hummingbird (boissonneaua flavescens): the Multicolored Hummingbird, or Boissonneaua flavescens, is a species that well deserves its name. Its feathers display a palette of brilliant colors, from purple to green to blue. This hummingbird is a living spectacle, especially when illuminated by sunlight in the Andean forests.

Appearances and habitats

Colombia, with its unrivalled ecological wealth, is home to a vast array of hummingbirds, each with physical characteristics and habitats as diverse as they are fascinating. These little birds, often referred to as “winged gems”, vary considerably in appearance depending on their environment, be it the heights of the Andes, tropical rainforests or sunny plains.

Colombian hummingbirds are famous for their brilliant plumage, which can display an incredible variety of hues, from emerald green to sapphire blue, ruby red and sparkling gold. This iridescent plumage, the result of light being diffracted by the microscopic structures of the feathers, is not only beautiful but also useful for social interaction and territory defense.

Hummingbirds are distinguished by their small size, but even among them there is a notable range.

• The Helena’s Hummingbird(Mellisuga helenae), although not a Colombian species (endemic to Cuba), is the world’s smallest bird and illustrates the extreme smallness of hummingbirds. Measuring just 5-6 cm in length and weighing barely 2 grams, it shows just how tiny these birds can be.
• The Giant Hummingbird(Patagona gigas), found in the Andes, including some border regions with Colombia, is the largest of all hummingbirds, measuring up to 23 cm in length and weighing around 20 grams. Although relatively large for a hummingbird, it remains tiny compared with other birds.

Beak length: specific adaptations

• The Peruvian Spurge(Ensifera ensifera), also found in the Andean regions of Colombia, has a remarkably long beak, measuring up to 10 cm, more than the length of its body. This long beak is ideally suited to reaching the nectar of deep-corolla flowers such as passionflowers.
• The Anaïs Hummingbird(Coeligena torquata), common in the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes, has a straight beak of medium length, around 4 to 5 cm. This beak is ideal for extracting nectar from the shorter, tubular flowers that are abundant in these regions.
• The Crocketed Hummingbird(Ramphodon naevius), found in the forests of eastern Colombia, is distinguished by its slightly curved beak, an adaptation that enables it to feed on curved flowers or inside dense vegetation where a straight beak would be less effective.

Hummingbird habitats in Colombia are as diverse as the species themselves, each species having adapted to specific ecological niches.

• Plains and arid zones: In the Llanos and drier regions, hummingbirds like the Coruscant Hummingbird(Amazilia tzacatl) adapt to open landscapes and savannahs, where they find refuge in bushes and isolated trees, feeding on the resilient flowers that dot these arid lands.
• The Andes: In the Andes mountains, where altitudes range from 1,000 to 4,500 meters, we find species such as the Golden-necked Inca(Coeligena bonapartei), which thrives in cool, misty cloud forests. The montane forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are also home to several endemic species, such as the Santa Marta Hummingbird(Campylopterus phainopeplus).
• Tropical forests: The lowlands of the Amazon and Chocó-Darién offer habitats rich in biodiversity for hummingbirds, such as the Topaz Hummingbird, which finds exotic flowers with abundant nectar. The tropical rainforest of eastern Colombia, with its dense canopies and winding rivers, is home to the Chiribiquete Emerald(Chlorostilbon olivaresi), a rare species whose habitat is extremely restricted.

Behavior and diet

Small but mighty

Hummingbirds are known for their incessant activity and characteristic flight. Here are some key aspects of their behavior:

• Hovering and agility: hummingbird flight is one of the most remarkable in the animal kingdom. With their wings beating at speeds of up to 80 beats per second, they are able to fly backwards, stop in mid-air, and maneuver with incredible precision to access flower nectar. This ability is essential to their survival, enabling them to feed efficiently in complex environments such as the dense forests of the Colombian Andes.
• Territoriality: hummingbirds are extremely territorial, especially when it comes to nectar sources. A hummingbird will fiercely defend its territory against other hummingbirds or even larger birds. This territoriality can translate into aggressive behavior, such as rapid aerial pursuits, dives and shrill vocalizations to intimidate intruders.
• Migrations and sedentariness: some hummingbird species in Colombia are sedentary, living year-round in the same habitat, while others migrate according to the seasons and the availability of flowers. Migrations can be short, simply to change altitude, or longer, crossing several regions of the country.
• Reproduction: Hummingbirds generally lay two tiny eggs, which they incubate for 14 to 23 days. At hatching, the chicks are blind and vulnerable, and the mother feeds them frequently with nectar and regurgitated insects. Over the next three weeks or so, the young grow rapidly, develop their feathers and begin to practise flight. After leaving the nest, they gradually become independent, learning to feed themselves and establish their own territory.

Diet: a love of nectar, but not only

Hummingbirds play an essential role in pollination, acting as fertilization vectors for many plants. Thanks to their hovering flight and slender, elongated beak, they are able to collect nectar from flowers of various shapes, often inaccessible to other pollinators. As they forage, they carry pollen from one flower to another, facilitating the reproduction of many plant species. In Colombia, where floral biodiversity is particularly rich (first in the world!), hummingbirds make a significant contribution to the health of ecosystems, helping to maintain the diversity and regeneration of local plants.

Hummingbirds are mainly nectarivores, but their diet is actually quite varied.

• Nectar: flower nectar is the hummingbirds’ main source of energy. They prefer tubular, colorful flowers, which produce sugar-rich nectar. In Colombia, they feed on many local plants, including bromeliads, passionflowers and fuchsias, helping to pollinate these species. In exchange for nectar, hummingbirds carry pollen from flower to flower, playing a crucial role in plant reproduction.
• Insects and spiders: although nectar provides quick energy, hummingbirds also need protein to keep their bodies healthy. They therefore hunt small insects and spiders, which they capture in flight or find on leaves and webs. This complementary diet is essential for the growth of young birds and for survival in times of nectar shortage.
• Sap and fruit: less frequently, hummingbirds can also consume tree sap and berries. This adaptation enables them to diversify their diet, especially when nectar is scarce.

Dietary strategies: energy conservation and hyperactivity

• Feeding territories: hummingbirds often establish feeding territories that they defend fiercely. They quickly learn where the flowers are richest in nectar and establish circuits that they follow methodically to optimize their energy intake.
• Fast metabolism: hummingbirds have one of the fastest metabolisms in the animal kingdom. Their hearts can beat up to 1,200 times a minute, and they must frequently consume sugar-rich nectar to maintain their energy levels. A hummingbird can consume the equivalent of its own weight in nectar every day.
• Saving energy at night: to manage their extremely rapid metabolism, hummingbirds spend a large part of their day feeding. They visit several hundred flowers a day, which requires considerable energy. At night, they enter a state of torpor, lowering their body temperature and heart rate to save energy.

Threats and conservation

Hummingbirds, symbols of beauty and agility, face many threats in Colombia, a country where their diversity is among the richest in the world. Although these small birds are admired for their radiance and energy, they are increasingly vulnerable to a variety of dangers, requiring conservation efforts to ensure their survival.

Main threats

1. Habitat loss: one of the most serious threats to hummingbirds in Colombia is habitat loss due to deforestation. The conversion of forests to farmland, mining and urbanization are reducing the areas where hummingbirds can feed, breed and take refuge. Cloud forests, páramos and other fragile ecosystems, essential for many hummingbird species, are particularly hard hit.
2. Climate change: changes in weather patterns disrupt the flowering cycles of plants on which hummingbirds depend for food. Global warming can also lead to the loss of favorable altitudes, forcing hummingbirds to move to higher ground where their habitat is more restricted.
3. Pesticides and pollution: the use of pesticides in agriculture is another serious threat. Chemicals can contaminate hummingbirds’ food sources, such as flowers and insects, leading to poisoning. In addition, air and water pollution affects the quality of their natural environment.
4. Invasive species: the introduction of invasive species, such as certain plants and insects, can disrupt local ecosystems. These species can compete with hummingbirds for resources, or alter the availability of plants on which they depend for nectar.

Conservation efforts

To protect hummingbirds in Colombia, several conservation initiatives and programs have been set up:

1. Creation and management of protected areas: Colombia has established numerous nature reserves and national parks to preserve critical hummingbird habitats. These protected areas offer refuge from deforestation and enable endemic species to survive.
2. Reforestation and habitat restoration: reforestation projects aim to restore destroyed habitats, notably by replanting native plant species that provide nectar and shelter for hummingbirds. These efforts are crucial to restoring ecosystems and ensuring the availability of the resources these birds need.
3. Education and awareness: environmental education programs play a key role in hummingbird conservation. By raising awareness among local communities, farmers and tourists of the importance of hummingbirds and the ecosystems they inhabit, these initiatives encourage more sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices.
4. Research and monitoring: scientific research is essential to understand the specific needs of different hummingbird species and the threats they face. Monitoring programs make it possible to track hummingbird populations and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation measures.

Cultural importance of the hummingbird in Colombia

In Colombia, as in many Latin American countries, the hummingbird occupies a special place in culture and tradition, symbolizing much more than just a bird.

Symbolism in indigenous cultures

In many of Colombia’s indigenous cultures, the hummingbird is seen as a messenger of the gods or a spiritual guide. A Muisca legend recounts that the hummingbird was born from the breath of divinities, charged with carrying messages between the world of men and that of spirits. Its speed and ability to fly backwards are interpreted as signs of its divine nature, capable of travelling back in time and transporting souls from one world to another. This role of messenger between worlds, a little like Hermes in Greek mythology, gives the hummingbird a unique status, where it is close to both gods and men.

Another legend, from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, tells how the hummingbird played a crucial role in the creation of flowers. According to this tale, at the beginning of time, the world was dull and colorless. The gods, wishing to bring beauty to the earth, asked the hummingbird to distribute color to the plants. Thanks to its speed and agility, the hummingbird travelled through the forests, bringing bright hues to the flowers and thus creating the floral diversity we know today. This legend highlights not only the hummingbird’s vital role in the ecosystem, but also its symbolic ability to bring beauty and life wherever it goes.

Representations in art and craft

The hummingbird appears frequently in traditional Colombian handicrafts, particularly in regions where the indigenous heritage remains strong. For example, the Wayuu, an indigenous people of the La Guajira peninsula, often incorporate hummingbird motifs into their colorful weavings, known as “mochilas”. These bags are not only utilitarian objects, but also works of art that tell local stories and myths, including those in which the hummingbird plays a central role.

In the culture of the Taironas, who thrived in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the hummingbird was also an important symbol. The Taironas used stylized representations of hummingbirds in their jewelry, often in gold, a metal that symbolized the sun and deities. These jewels, found in ancient tombs, show the importance of the hummingbird in their cosmology, where it represented life force and agility.

Influence in popular culture

In contemporary Colombia, the hummingbird has become a national symbol of resilience and biodiversity. In 2011, the Colombian government issued a series of stamps celebrating the diversity of the country’s hummingbirds, highlighting endemic species such as the Chiribiquete emerald hummingbird (Chlorostilbon olivaresi). These initiatives aim to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and strengthen national identity around Colombia’s natural wealth.

Role in festivals and celebrations

The hummingbird is also present in certain local festivals and celebrations. For example, at carnivals in some parts of the Andes, dancers sometimes wear hummingbird-inspired costumes, with bright colors and fast movements, symbolizing vivacity and energy. This presence in the festivities underlines the importance of the hummingbird not only as a symbol of nature, but also as an emblem of joy and life itself.

Where to see hummingbirds in Colombia?

Spotting hummingbirds in Colombia may seem straightforward, given that these little birds can be found all over the country, from lush jungles to Andean cloud forests and coastal mangroves. Their distribution across diverse ecosystems is vast, but spotting them in their natural habitat requires attention. Their small size and rapid movement make them difficult to observe with the naked eye. They are often first detected by the distinctive hum of their high-frequency beating wings.

These birds rarely land, preferring to twirl from flower to flower in the heart of the dense vegetation. To admire them up close, it’s often easier to visit botanical gardens and fincas, especially coffee plantations, where the variety of flowers and plants attracts hummingbirds in great numbers. Some tourist sites, such as nature reserves, are also equipped with feeders, offering a privileged opportunity to observe them. You’ll need a bit of luck after that. For example, we came across a hummingbird on our way out of a restaurant in a shopping mall in the heart of Bogotá.

Here are a few tips on how to enjoy hummingbird watching to the full and avoid any inconvenience:

• Choose the right time: hummingbirds are most active in the morning and evening. That’s the best time to observe them.
• Avoid chemicals: hummingbirds are sensitive to repellents and insecticides. If you need them, opt for environmentally-friendly alternatives.
• Move slowly and keep quiet: hummingbirds can easily be startled. Move slowly and wear neutral-colored clothing so as not to disturb them.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the best places in Colombia to see these winged gems in all their splendour:

Jardin Encantado / San Fransisco: Located in San Francisco, about an hour from Bogotá, the Jardin Encantado is a small private garden that attracts a multitude of hummingbirds thanks to its many feeders. It’s one of the most popular spots for bird photographers, where you can observe dozens of hummingbirds of different species, including the red-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) and the emerald hummingbird.

Reserva Natural Acaime / Cocora, Salento: in the Cocora valley, near Salento, this reserve is another ideal place to observe hummingbirds. Acaime is famous for its feeders, which attract many species, including the spangled-winged hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) and the snowshoe-tailed hummingbird (Ocreatus underwoodii). After a hike through the magnificent Cocora Valley, this is the perfect place to relax and admire these birds while sipping hot chocolate.

José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden / Bogotá : The José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden extends over 20 hectares in the heart of Bogotá and serves as a natural sanctuary for numerous plant species endemic to the Andean highlands and páramos. The garden is dedicated to the research and preservation of local flora, while also offering a variety of nature-watching activities, such as hikes and the study of flora and fauna. It’s not uncommon to spot splendid green or sword-billed hummingbirds foraging on the surrounding flowers. Strategically placed water troughs also attract them.

Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden / Medellín : The Medellín Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden, covering some 13.2 hectares, is both a scientific research center and an educational space dedicated to the environment. It also serves as a place of leisure and civic culture focused on nature protection. Among the many bird species that can be observed here, hummingbirds stand out in particular. They can often be seen gathering around the many troughs specially installed to feed and attract them.

Recinto El Pensamiento / Manizales : The Recinto El Pensamiento is a garden nestled in the heart of an enchanting cloud forest. Exploring this site, you can discover a variety of butterflies, admire numerous orchids, go hiking or birdwatching. A house equipped with feeders is the perfect place to contemplate the continuous spectacle of hummingbirds. More than 26 different species come here to dance, attracted by this oasis of nectar.

Quindío Botanical Garden / Calarcá: The Quindío Botanical Garden is a nature reserve managed by a non-governmental organization dedicated to the preservation of local ecosystems and Colombian biodiversity. This garden offers an immersive experience with its famous butterfly garden, a fascinating insect zoo, and three platforms specially designed for birdwatching, including hummingbirds.