Velvet-purple Coronet

In Ecuador, the Velvet-purple Coronet is restricted to the humid cloud forests of the northwestern Andes, particularly in Pichincha Province, where it inhabits mossy forest interiors and edges between 800 and 1,700 meters. Though its range is limited and vulnerable to deforestation, it remains locally common and is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. This dazzling hummingbird is highly territorial, defending clusters of flowers with aggressive aerial displays, and supplements its nectar diet by hawking small insects mid-flight. Breeding occurs from January to at least March, with females constructing moss-lined cup nests on horizontal branches deep within the forest understory.