- Chaetocercus berlepschi
Acestrura berlepschi
Identification
6-7cm
Male
- Copper green above
- Copper green flanks and breast band
- Iridescent violet gorget
- Grey white breast
- Forked tail
- Straight black bill
Female
- Copper green above
- White below
- Buff throat
- Tawny tail with white tips and black subterminal bar
- Straight black bill
Juveniles: Males and females can be distinguished already at fledging
Distribution
South America: found in the lowlands of western Ecuador (Esmeraldas, Manabí and Guayas.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Dry forest
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes nectar. There has also been reports that females of this species ingest soil rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Breeding
The nest is a cup of fibers and seeds tied together by spider silk and covered with lichens for camouflage. It is usually placed in a fork of thin vertical branches in a small tree or scrub.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Juina et al. (2010). Description of the nest and parental care of the Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi) in western Ecuador. Ornithologia Neotropical 21(3):313-322 (in Spanish)
- BirdLife International
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Esmeraldas Woodstar. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Esmeraldas_Woodstar
