Purple-bibbed Whitetip

In Ecuador, the Purple-bibbed Whitetip is found on the Pacific slope of the Andes, from the Colombian border south to Pichincha Province, inhabiting humid montane forest interiors and edges between 700 and 1,600 meters, with peak abundance around 1,200 to 1,400 meters. It is a partial elevational migrant, moving downslope after breeding, and remains locally common despite a suspected population decline; the IUCN currently lists it as Least Concern. This species forages low in the forest, feeding on nectar from bromeliads and other native plants, and supplements its diet with insects gleaned from foliage or caught mid-air. Breeding occurs from January to April, with moss-and-fern cup nests placed in steep ravines, and females solely responsible for incubation and care of the young.