Blue-capped Puffleg
Blue-capped Puffleg (Eriocnemis glaucopoides)
Name Origin:
The genus name Eriocnemis comes from the Greek erion meaning “wool” and knemis meaning “leg armor,” referring to the fluffy feather tufts on the legs that give pufflegs their name. The species name glaucopoides combines the Greek glaukos meaning “blue-green” and -poides meaning “resembling,” describing the bird’s distinctive bluish crown and glossy coloration.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5–6 g (0.18–0.21 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina
🧭 Elevation: 1,800–3,500 m (5,900–11,480 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane and cloud forest edges, shrublands, and páramo zones
🧬 Clade: Heliantheini "Brilliants" (high-Andean hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.
Distribution: Found along the Andes of southern Bolivia (La Paz and Cochabamba) south into northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, and Catamarca). Prefers humid montane forest edges, shrubby slopes, and páramo-like habitats at elevations between 1,800 and 3,500 meters.
Species Overview
The Blue-capped Puffleg is an eye-catching Andean hummingbird, easily recognized by its metallic blue crown and brilliant green plumage. Like other pufflegs, it sports fluffy white feather tufts on its legs, adding to its distinctive appearance. Common in montane forest edges and highland shrublands, it is often seen darting among Fuchsia, Bomarea, and Brachyotum flowers.
Male Description:
The male has shimmering emerald-green upperparts, a vivid blue crown, and white leg puffs that contrast against the metallic plumage. The underparts are green with a bronze wash, and the tail is dark with violet-bronze gloss. The bill is straight and black. When perched in sunlight, the blue crown glows intensely, creating a striking display.
Female Description:
The female resembles the male but is slightly duller overall, with less iridescent crown coloration and smaller leg tufts. Her underparts are lighter green with a faint grayish wash, and her tail is shorter and more rounded. Females tend to forage lower in vegetation and are less aggressive than males.
Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, forest edges, and páramo shrubs, feeding primarily on nectar from highland flowers. It also takes small insects for protein. Males are territorial and often perch conspicuously while defending flowering patches. The Blue-capped Puffleg is particularly active during early morning and late afternoon, when Bomarea and Fuchsia blooms are at their peak.
Conservation Note:
The Blue-capped Puffleg is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains fairly common within its range. However, deforestation, agricultural expansion, and grazing have reduced suitable habitat in some areas. Maintaining cloud forest corridors and high-elevation shrub zones is important for sustaining healthy populations of this dazzling member of the Heliantheini clade.
