Buffy Helmetcrest
Oxypogon stuebelii
The Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) is a rare hummingbird found only in Colombia, weighing about 5 g. The buffy helmetcrest is a Vulnerable species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Buffy Helmetcrest
The buffy helmetcrest is a Vulnerable species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Colombia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The buffy helmetcrest is 11.2 to 12.7 cm (4.4 to 5.0 in) long. It has a short straight black bill. The male has a long buffy and black crest and a mostly black face with a buffy-white "collar". Its upperparts are bronzy green. It has a thin glittering green and blue gorget that forms a "beard". The rest of the underparts are grayish bronzy that blends to cinnamon-buff on the undertail coverts. The tail is moderately long and forked. Its upper side is coppery to bronzy green with the outer feathers showing a wide white stripe; the underside is rufous with some pale cinnamon. Voice: The buffy helmetcrest's song is "a repeated, high-pitched, single note 'tsee'... every 3–5 seconds)." During the wet season, males sing for minutes on end from a perch.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Buffy Helmetcrest?
- The buffy helmetcrest is 11.2 to 12.7 cm (4.4 to 5.0 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Buffy Helmetcrest?
- The Buffy Helmetcrest is a tiny sized bird weighing about 5 g.
- Where can you see a Buffy Helmetcrest?
- The Buffy Helmetcrest is endemic to Colombia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Buffy Helmetcrest?
- The Buffy Helmetcrest is most easily confused with the Green-bearded Helmetcrest, the White-bearded Helmetcrest and the Blue-bearded Helmetcrest.
- Is the Buffy Helmetcrest endangered?
- The Buffy Helmetcrest is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Buffy Helmetcrest for real
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