Purple-throated Woodstar

The Purple-throated Woodstar is a tiny, bumblebee-like hummingbird found year-round on the west slope of the Andes in Ecuador, typically between 800 and 2,000 meters in cloud forests, forest edges, and second growth. Though generally uncommon, it occurs locally and is most often seen singly, darting through the canopy or visiting feeders, with males flashing their glittering violet gorgets and forked tails. Globally listed as Least Concern, its population is suspected to be declining due to habitat fragmentation, but it remains stable across much of its range. The species feeds on nectar from flowering trees like Cordia and Inga, and supplements its diet with small arthropods; males defend feeding territories, while breeding behavior remains only partially documented.