Description: High-Andean hummingbird, about 13 cm in length, with reddish tones, very restricted in Argentina to the extreme north of Jujuy. Shows marked sexual dimorphism: Male: upperparts grayish-brown with slight bronze tones. Throat bright green, bib-like, with a black lower border. Chest and belly intense chestnut-rufous, with a central black line; the center may appear darker or bluish depending on light. Tail dark blue to blackish, with inner sections cinnamon-rufous on nearly all feathers except the central ones; ventrally showing noticeable reddish tones. Female: dorsal coloration brown. Throat white with gray and green spotting, giving a speckled appearance. Underparts cinnamon, paler toward the center. Tail with white tips on the outer feathers. Juvenile: similar to the female.

Distribution: Southern Bolivia and extreme northwestern Argentina, where it is mainly restricted to northern Jujuy, especially in the Yavi area and surroundings, a few kilometers from the border with Bolivia.

Habitat: Arid and semi-arid ravines of the Prepuna and Puna, between 2,600 and 4,000 m a.s.l. Rocky environments with scattered shrubs; also in temporarily moist areas. In Yavi it uses ravines with shrubby vegetation and may benefit from ornamental flowers in villages such as Red-hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria). Likely performs local or altitudinal movements; considered mostly resident in its Argentine range, although some individuals may move during autumn–winter.

Behavior: Solitary, active, and fast. Uses exposed perches. Often feeds repeatedly at the same sites. Produces sharp trills and short “fíít” calls. The male sings from exposed perches and performs display flights in U-shaped curves accompanied by wing snaps.

Feeding: Feeds on nectar from flowers of shrubs and cacti (e.g., Barnadesia, Mutisia, Loranthaceae, Puya), supplementing its diet with insects.

Breeding: Nest large and cup-shaped, attached to vertical rocky surfaces in ravines. Eggs reported from November; juveniles observed from February.

Conservation status: Species categorized as Endangered at the national level. In Argentina its population is concentrated in the Yavi area and is estimated at fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. Its distribution is very restricted as it represents a marginal population.


Author of this compilation: Diego Carus and María Belén Dri – 03/04/2026