Black-hooded Sunbeam
Aglaeactis pamela
The Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) is a legendary hummingbird found only in Bolivia, weighing about 6 g. The black-hooded sunbeam is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Black-hooded Sunbeam
The black-hooded sunbeam is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Bolivia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-hooded sunbeam is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long including its 15 mm (0.59 in) straight black bill. Males weigh about 5.2 g (0.18 oz) and females 5.8 g (0.20 oz). The adult male is mostly purplish black, with glittering golden green to bluish green on the lower back and rump and a white tuft in the center of the breast. The tail is rufous with dusky tips to the feathers. Adult females are colored like the male but are duller overall and with less iridescent lower back and rump. Juveniles are somewhat browner than adults, with a reduced breast tuft and an olive cast to the tail. Voice: Though the black-hooded sunbeam's vocalizations are not well known, it has been reported giving a "high pitched zeet-zeet-zeet", and other calls during antagonistic encounters.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: March, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-hooded Sunbeam?
- The black-hooded sunbeam is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long including its 15 mm (0.59 in) straight black bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-hooded Sunbeam?
- The Black-hooded Sunbeam is a tiny sized bird weighing about 6 g.
- Where can you see a Black-hooded Sunbeam?
- The Black-hooded Sunbeam is endemic to Bolivia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Black-hooded Sunbeam?
- The Black-hooded Sunbeam is most easily confused with the Purple-backed Sunbeam, the White-tufted Sunbeam and the Shining Sunbeam.
- Is the Black-hooded Sunbeam endangered?
- The Black-hooded Sunbeam is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-hooded Sunbeam for real
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