White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant)

Identification & Behavior: ~8 cm (3.1 in). The male White-bellied Woodstar has green upperparts and a broad violet gorget. The underparts are white with green sides of the breast and belly. The tail is dusky, short and forked. The female is dark green above and white below with rufous sides of the breast and belly. The tail is rufous with a median black band. Both sexes have a conspicuous white stripe from the eye down the neck to connect the breast. Also, both sexes have white patches on the sides of the rump. The bill is black and slightly decurved. Both sexes are similar to the Amethyst Woodstar but are distinguished by being chunkier, having shorter t tails, having a white stripe from behind the eye, and ranging at higher elevations.

Status: The White-bellied Woodstar is common in montane forests on the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in humid montane forests on the west slope of the Andes Sout to la Libertad. It generally ranges at elevations between 800-3100 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Estrellita de Vientre Blanco.

Sub-species: White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant), Bourcier, 1843.

Meaning of Name: Chaetocercus:  Gr. Khaitē=  long flowing hair and kerkos=  tail. mulsant: In honor of Martial Étienne Mulsant (1797-1880) French zoologist, collector.

See more of the Family Trochilidae