Empress Brilliant

Heliodoxa imperatrix

Least ConcernUncommonNectarForestCup nestTiny · 9 g

About the Empress Brilliant

The empress brilliant is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

Male empress brilliants are 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) long and weigh about 9.3 g (0.33 oz). Females are 12 to 13.5 cm (4.7 to 5.3 in) long and weigh about 8.3 g (0.29 oz). The adult male's forehead, face, and breast are mostly glittering dark green, with a square glittering pale violet patch in the center of the throat. Its crown and nape are dark green and the rest of the upperparts dark bronzy green. Its belly is glittering golden green. The central tail feathers are dark bronze and the rest longer and black with a bronze gloss. The adult female's upperparts are bronzy green. Voice: One empress brilliant vocalization is a "repeated single 'tsit' note". It is also given singly while hovering and feeding.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular range

When to see it

Peak activity in February · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Empress Brilliant for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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