Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

In Ecuador, the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is found primarily on the western Andean slope and in adjacent lowland foothills, inhabiting humid forests, forest edges, and disturbed areas from sea level up to about 1,500 meters. It is a year-round resident and remains common across its range, thriving even in gardens and secondary growth; the IUCN currently lists it as Least Concern. This species is highly territorial, aggressively defending nectar sources, and supplements its diet with small insects caught mid-air or gleaned from foliage. Breeding occurs during the rainy season, with females constructing cup-shaped nests from plant fibers and spider silk, often placed on low horizontal branches.