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Shining Sunbeam

Aglaeactis cupripennis

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernNectarShrublandCup nestTiny · 8 g
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 1
Photo: (c) desertnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by desertnaturalist · cc-by
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 2
Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 3
Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 4
Photo: Peter Archdale · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 5
Photo: Josh Noseworthy · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 6
Photo: Josh Noseworthy · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 7
Photo: Jonathan Juan Chancasana Villacorta · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 8
Photo: Charlie O'Brien · CC0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 9
Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), photo 10
Photo: Alina Martin · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

The shining sunbeam is 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) long. Males weigh 7.6 to 8.1 g (0.27 to 0.29 oz) and females 6.9 to 7.5 g (0.24 to 0.26 oz). Both sexes have a short, straight, black bill. Unique among sunbeams, neither sex has any white plumage. Males of the nominate subspecies have a dark brown crown and upper back; their lower back and rump are lilac-gold becoming silvery green on the uppertail coverts. Their tail feathers are dark brown to rufous, usually with bronzy edges. Their throat is rufous dotted with dusky gray, the breast a patchy buff, and the belly reddish brown. Voice: The shining sunbeam's song is "high-pitched chirping notes, 'tsip...chew...chew...tseep.....tsip..chew...'". Its calls include "single upslurred 'suweet' notes and single high-pitched 'see' notes."

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Shining Sunbeam

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Shining Sunbeam

Regular range

The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Ecuador Colombia Peru

About the Shining Sunbeam

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

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

Easily confused with

White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) White-tufted SunbeamAglaeactis castelnaudiiAn adult white-tufted sunbeam is approximately 12 cm in height and weighs 7- 8.5 g. Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) Black-hooded SunbeamAglaeactis pamelaThe black-hooded sunbeam is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long including its 15 mm (0.59 in) straight black bill. Purple-backed SunbeamAglaeactis aliciaeThe purple-backed sunbeam is a bird species in the family Trochilidae.

Side by side: Antillean Crested Hummingbird vs Shining Sunbeam

Watch the Shining Sunbeam on live cams

Peru High Andes Hummingbird CamPeru · Hummingbird Spot

Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.

Learn the Shining Sunbeam in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

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