Buff-tailed Coronet
Scientific name: Boissonneaua flavescens
The Buff-tailed Coronet is a medium-sized, robust hummingbird of humid montane and cloud forests along the Andes of western Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. It is currently listed as Least Concern, with an unknown number of mature individuals, a decreasing population trend, and it is considered not a migrant.
At a Glance
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
Clades: Lesbiinae – Brilliants
Genus group: Boissonneaua — medium-sized “coronets” (3 species in total: Buff-tailed, Velvet-purple, Chestnut-breasted)
Range: Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida) and all three Andean ranges of Colombia, south along the western Andean slope into Ecuador to Cotopaxi, with local occurrence on the eastern slope of Ecuador (Napo).
Habitat: Interior and edges of humid to wet montane forest, cloud forest, and elfin forest, as well as adjacent shrubby clearings and edges.
Elevation: Mostly from about 2,000 to 3,500 m (6,600–11,500 ft).
Length: About 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in).
Weight: About 7.3–8.8 g (0.26–0.31 oz).
Number of mature individuals: Unknown.
Population trend: Decreasing.
Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List category).
Migration: Not a migrant.
Name Origin
The genus name Boissonneaua honors a French naturalist, likely associated with early collections from the Andes. The species name flavescens means “yellowish” or “buff-colored,” referring to the buffy tones on the tail and underwing region. The English name “Buff-tailed Coronet” highlights the conspicuous buff tail bases and under-tail area, and “coronet” refers to the upright, crowned posture and glittering head often shown when the bird perches and flares its plumage.
Taxonomy & Distribution
Boissonneaua flavescens
Buff-tailed Coronet belongs to the subfamily Lesbiinae, in the “brilliants” tribe, and forms part of the small coronet genus Boissonneaua along with Chestnut-breasted and Velvet-purple Coronets. It is distributed along the Andes from western Venezuela through Colombia and into Ecuador, primarily on humid montane slopes and ridges. Two subspecies are recognized, which differ mainly in geography and subtle plumage tones.
Subspecies and Distribution
Buff-tailed Coronet has two recognized subspecies.
Boissonneaua flavescens flavescens
This nominate subspecies is found in the Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida) and throughout Colombia, across all three main Andean ranges: Western, Central, and Eastern. It inhabits humid montane forest, cloud forest, and elfin forest, especially at middle to upper elevations, and uses both interior forest and edges as well as nearby shrubby clearings.Boissonneaua flavescens tinochlora
This subspecies occurs in southwestern Colombia and along the western Andean slope south through Ecuador to Cotopaxi, with local populations on the eastern slope of Ecuador in Napo. It occupies similar humid montane and cloud-forest habitats, favoring forest edges, clearings, and shrubby openings along the Andean slopes where flowering shrubs and trees are abundant.
Legend
Green Resident
Species Overview
The Buff-tailed Coronet is a chunky, pugnacious hummingbird with glittering green plumage and distinctive buffy underwing and tail markings. It is often seen in the mid-levels and canopy of montane forests, perching conspicuously with wings partly spread and tail flicked, showing off its buff tail bases and underwing coverts. In suitable Andean cloud-forest areas it can be one of the more frequently encountered larger hummingbirds at flowers and feeders.
Male Description
Adult males are medium-sized and robust, with predominantly bright metallic green upperparts and underparts, sometimes with bronzy tones on the back or rump. The tail is medium length with buffy to rufous bases and darker tips, creating a clear buff-tailed impression when spread. Under the wings and around the base of the tail, the plumage shows strong buff to cinnamon tones. The bill is short, straight, and black, and there is a small pale or whitish spot behind the eye. In display, males often perch with wings held slightly out and tail fanned, emphasizing the buffy tail and underwing patches against the green body.
Female Description
Females are similar to males in overall size and structure, with glittering green plumage and buffy tail and underwing areas, but may appear slightly duller with less intense iridescence. The pale post-ocular spot is usually present, and the pattern of buffy tail bases and underwing coverts is retained. Juveniles resemble females but are duller overall, with more brownish or grayish tones mixed into the green and less intense buff coloration, and may show subtle scaling or mottling on the underparts.
Habitat & Behavior
Buff-tailed Coronets inhabit humid to wet montane forests, cloud forests, and elfin forest, as well as forest edges and shrubby clearings along Andean slopes. They often forage in the mid-story and canopy, visiting flowers of shrubs, trees, and epiphytes, and can be conspicuous at hummingbird feeders in cloud-forest lodges. They have a characteristic behavior of perching with wings held slightly away from the body and tail flicking, which shows off the buffy underwing and tail. Like many brilliants, they are aggressive and territorial around favored flowers and feeders, and they also capture small insects for protein.
Breeding
Breeding has been recorded mainly between about November and March in parts of the range, but timing may vary locally along the Andes. The female builds a cup nest of moss and lichen bound with spiderweb, usually attached to a branch between roughly 3 and 10 m (10–30 ft) above the ground in forest or along forest edges. She lays two white eggs and alone incubates and raises the young, following the typical hummingbird pattern.
Population
The total number of mature individuals is unknown, but Buff-tailed Coronet is considered rare in some areas and locally common in others, especially around high-quality montane forest and well‑flowered clearings. It occupies a relatively broad elevational and geographic range along the northern Andes, and is present in several protected areas, yet its specialized dependence on humid montane forests makes it sensitive to habitat loss and degradation.
Conservation
Buff-tailed Coronet is currently assessed as Least Concern, but its population trend is decreasing, primarily due to ongoing deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and degradation of montane and cloud forests in the northern Andes. Conservation of intact montane forest, protection and restoration of cloud-forest corridors, and careful management of development and agriculture along Andean slopes are important for maintaining viable populations. The species benefits from protected areas and from conservation-minded reserves and lodges that preserve native forest and flowering plant communities.
Below is the Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens flavescens)
Photographed at Reserva Ecológica Río Blanco – Lodge, Caldas, and Colibrí del Sol ProAves Reserve, Antioquia, Colombia
These individuals belong to the nominate subspecies flavescens, which is widespread along the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia. It is typically found in humid montane forest, cloud forest edge, and high elevation woodland, often at elevations above 2,000 meters.
Related species in the Boissonneaua genus (3 species in total):
Please note: The content provided in this article reflects Anthony’s personal experience and photographic approach. Results can vary depending on light, weather, location, equipment, subject behavior, and field conditions.