Chestnut-breasted Coronet

The Chestnut-breasted Coronet is a robust, territorial hummingbird found along both slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, typically between 1,600 and 3,300 meters in humid montane forests and forest-edge gardens. It is globally listed as Least Concern, though its population is thought to be slowly declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Known for its vivid chestnut underparts and habit of flaring its wings after landing, it forages in the mid-story and canopy, defending nectar-rich flowers with surprising aggression. In Ecuador, it remains fairly common in reserves like Mindo, Podocarpus, and the eastern slopes near Cosanga, where forest cover still supports its specialized feeding behavior.