White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5 cm (4.5 in). The White-tufted Sunbeam is overall rufous and dusky with distinctive broad white feathers on the breast. The rump in both sexes is mostly iridescent purple. The tail is slightly notched and mostly rufous. The bill is black and straight. It is similar to the closely related Shining Sunbeam but is distinguished by being overall darker and the conspicuous white feathers on the breast. These two species seem to interbreed to some extent as intermediate-plumaged birds are seen in areas where they overlap.

Status: Endemic. The White-tufted Sunbeam is uncommon in two separate populations in the central and southern inter-Andean valleys. It favors humid scrub in inter-Andean valleys where it ranges at elevations between 2500-4100 m.

Name in Spanish: Rayo-de-Sol Acanelado.

Sub-species: White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii regalis), J. T. Zimmer, 1951. Andes of C Peru (Huánuco, Pasco, Junín).
(Aglaeactis castelnaudii castelnaudii), Bourcier and Mulsant, 1848. Andes of Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac and Cuzco, in SC Peru.

Meaning of Name: Aglaeactis:  Gr. Aglaia, aglaos= splendour, magnificence, splendid and aktis, aktinos= sunbeam. castelnaudii: In honor of François Louis Nompar de Caumont La Force Comte de Castelnau (1810-1880) French diplomat, explorer, collector in tropical America.

See more of the Family Trochilidae