Green-backed Hillstar

The Green-backed Hillstar is a striking hummingbird found along the eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador, typically between 1,600 and 2,800 meters, where it frequents humid montane forests, forest edges, and shrubby slopes near streams. Though generally uncommon, it occurs year-round and is most often seen foraging in the lower and middle forest strata, feeding on nectar from Inga, Bomarea, and Psammisia, and occasionally hawking insects from perches. Globally listed as Least Concern, its population appears stable across its limited range in Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. Males defend feeding territories, but the species’ breeding behavior remains poorly documented, adding a touch of mystery to its elegant, bronzy-green presence in the cloud forest canopy.