Sapphire-vented Puffleg

Eriocnemis luciani (Bourcier, 1847)

Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani, is a hummingbird of the Andes in south-west Colombia, Ecuador and southern Peru. It belongs to the family Trochilidae and breeds in South America from south-west Colombia to southern Peru. The bird has a straight black bill. Males show metallic green upperparts, a dark blue forecrown, glittering golden green underparts, a purple vent and undertail coverts, white leg puffs, and a blue-black forked tail. Females are a little smaller and have a less deeply forked tail, but the same plumage. It lives in humid montane forest, especially elfin forest, Polylepis woodland and brushy páramo.

Order

Apodiformes

Family

Trochilidae — Hummingbirds

Breeding range

South America: sw Colombia to s Peru