We're all packed and about to leave Colombia to return to the UK after 20 months here. I've found a real joy in watching the hummingbirds coming to my balcony feeder. I regularly got visits from many individuals of 4 different species (and a 5th now and again), including Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds.
Two days before leaving the 5th floor apartment (on the NE edge of the city of Bucaramanga, Santander) a small light brown hummer, obviously a juvenile, appeared on the balcony railing.
Although I had hopes otherwise, at first I assumed it was a recently-fledged Rufous-tailed. It seemed healthy and was amazingly trusting- I could touch it (gently) with my fingertip and it didn't seem to have yet become an expert flier like the other hummers.
However, after confirmation from a species expert (Oswaldo Cortes) it turns out it is a Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia castaneiventris). This is a Colombian endemic, classified as an endangered species with only a few thousand individuals. I knew they were living to the south, in Chicamocha canyon, and last year had even been seen about 10km away, but only in my dreams did I think one would appear on my balcony. I also never thought it might hang around for photos.
What a great surprise leaving present! An endangered species on my balcony |
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Two days before leaving the 5th floor apartment (on the NE edge of the city of Bucaramanga, Santander) a small light brown hummer, obviously a juvenile, appeared on the balcony railing.
Although I had hopes otherwise, at first I assumed it was a recently-fledged Rufous-tailed. It seemed healthy and was amazingly trusting- I could touch it (gently) with my fingertip and it didn't seem to have yet become an expert flier like the other hummers.
However, after confirmation from a species expert (Oswaldo Cortes) it turns out it is a Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia castaneiventris). This is a Colombian endemic, classified as an endangered species with only a few thousand individuals. I knew they were living to the south, in Chicamocha canyon, and last year had even been seen about 10km away, but only in my dreams did I think one would appear on my balcony. I also never thought it might hang around for photos.
What a great surprise leaving present! An endangered species on my balcony |
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