Green-backed Hillstar (Urochroa leucura)

Order: Apodiformes | Family: Trochilidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

white-tailed-hillstar
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Alto Nieva, S. Martin

white-tailed-hillstar
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Alto Nieva, S. Martin

white-tailed-hillstar
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Alto Nieva, S. Martin

white-tailed-hillstar
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Alto Nieva, S. Martin

Identification & Behavior: ~12.5 cm (5 in). The Green-backed Hillstar is mostly green above with a coppery rump. The throat and breast are iridescent blue with a dark gray rest of the underparts. The tail is mostly white with a greenish central pair of feathers. The bill is black and straight. The Green-backed Hillstar is similar to a male Napo Sabrewing, but is distinguished by a small size, and a white tail. Other white-tailed Andean hummingbirds include the Collared Inca and Mountain Velvetbreast.

Status: The Green-backed Hillstar is rare in humid montane forest of the northern east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 500-1400 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Estrella de Dorso Verde.

Sub-species: Green-backed Hillstar (Urochroa leucura), Lawrence, 1864.

Meaning of Name: Urochroa:  Gr. Oura= tail, khroa, khroas=  color, appearance.
leucura: Gr. Leukos= white; oura,ouros= tail, tailed. Leukouros= white-tailed.

See more of the Family Trochilidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
white-tailed-hillstarVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.