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| Photo by Larry Thompson (Discover Life) |
Common name:
fawn-breasted brilliant (en); beija-flor-brilhante-fulvo (pt); brilliant rubinoïde (fr); brillante pechigamuza (es); braunbauch-brilliantkolibri (de)
Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae
Range:
This species is found in both the eastern and western slopes of the Andes, in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and northern Bolivia.
Size:
These birds are 11 cm long and weigh 8 g.
Habitat:
The fawn-breasted brilliant is mostly found in mountain rainforests, but also in lowland rainforests, pastures, rural gardens and even within urban areas. They are present at altitudes of 1.700-2.700 m.
Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of highly scented, brightly coloured flowers, but will also hunt small spiders and insects.
Breeding:
The fawn-breasted brilliant is polygynous, with the males having no further part in the breeding process after mating. The breed in January-May. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest using plant fibres and moss, which is lined with softer materials and placed in a scrub or tree. There she lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks are fed and brooded by the female and fledge 20 days after hatching.
Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. It is not considered threatened at present.
