Dusky Starfrontlet
Coeligena orina
The Dusky Starfrontlet (Coeligena orina) is a legendary hummingbird found only in Colombia, weighing about 6 g. The dusky starfrontlet, also known as glittering starfrontlet, is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Dusky Starfrontlet
The dusky starfrontlet, also known as glittering starfrontlet, is an Endangered species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to a few small areas in western Colombia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The dusky starfrontlet is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Males weigh 6.9 to 7.2 g (0.24 to 0.25 oz) and females 6.7 to 7 g (0.24 to 0.25 oz). The male has a glittering blue-green to golden green forehead and a velvety black crown, face, and mantle. The back is green with black highlights, the rump and uppertail coverts iridescent golden green, and the tail a paler green. The throat and breast are dark green, like the back suffused with black, and there is a large cobalt-blue spot on the lower throat. The belly and undertail coverts are the same golden green as the rump. Voice: A few dusky starfrontlet vocalizations have been described, a "high-pitched wiry note becoming trill-like towards the end 'tseeririrrr', a single 'tsee' and a lower-pitched strident 'tsip'."
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Dusky Starfrontlet?
- The dusky starfrontlet is about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Dusky Starfrontlet?
- The Dusky Starfrontlet is a tiny sized bird weighing about 6 g.
- Where can you see a Dusky Starfrontlet?
- The Dusky Starfrontlet is endemic to Colombia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Dusky Starfrontlet?
- The Dusky Starfrontlet is most easily confused with the Perija Starfrontlet, the Black Inca and the Golden-bellied Starfrontlet.
- Is the Dusky Starfrontlet endangered?
- The Dusky Starfrontlet is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Dusky Starfrontlet for real
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