▶️Blue-throated Hillstar (New Species Highest Elevation Hummingbird)

[Donkees]

The Blue-throated Hillstar was recently discovered in Southern Ecuador (2017) by a team of local and international ornithologists. It is restricted to an area of about 100 square kilometers, and researchers estimate there are no more than 200 mature individuals. Its small range, specialized habitat, and threats from human activity mean that it's likely to be classified as critically endangered.

Threats are the intentional burning of its grassland paramo habitat for cattle grazing, extensive conifer plantations, and general agricultural expansion, plus the more recent problem of prospective open-pit mining for metals.

This medium-sized hummingbird is around 13cm in length, with its slightly decurved bill allowing for feeding on the Puya sp. plant's curved flowers, as well as the Chuquiragua (Aster genus) shrub. Its habitat is open paramo and riverine bush between 3300 and 3700masl around the Cerro de Arcos massif. It is easily understandable how this location produced a new species of Hillstar- being a remote, high mountain range that is isolated and sandwiched between the ranges of two other Hillstar species.

Hillstars are unusual among hummingbirds - they are the highest elevation hummingbird in the world, occurring in the most rugged, isolated, and inaccessible parts of the highest Andes, where they roost in caves, forage close to the ground, and spend half their lives in hypothermic torpor.

Huge thanks to the Jocotoco Foundation for the help in making this video.

[Donkees]

1. The Jocotoco Foundation, in conjunction with American Bird Conservancy and the World Land Trust ...

The Jocotoco Foundation, in conjunction with American Bird Conservancy and the World Land Trust, has now purchased the first 65 Hectares of a proposed larger reserve, Cerro Arcos. But these 65 Hectares are not enough to ensure this species long-term survival, Jocotoco is currently working on getting more funds, if you would like to help, here's a link to a current fundraiser:

https://www.jocotoco.org.ec/wb#/EN/Proyectos/2024/Save_the_Blue_throated_Hillstar_from_extinction

This is the only remaining Hillstar habitat, and includes a limited population of its specialized nectar source of Chuquiraga and Puya species plants. The foundation has already started a nursery to replant the area with these critical feeding plants, and is working carefully with the local community of Guambusari to ensure the long-term protection of this beautiful species.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. i looked up this bird and apperently there are several variants of this bird.

[Donkees]

3. Have posted photos of several other Hillstars in this group