Buffy Helmetcrest

Colombia

Jul 17

Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii)

Name Origin:
The genus name Oxypogon comes from the Greek oxys meaning “sharp” or “pointed” and pogon meaning “beard,” a reference to the elongated facial and throat plumes typical of the genus. The species name stuebelii honors Moritz Alphons Stübel, a 19th-century German geologist and explorer who worked extensively in the Andes of Colombia.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 11–12.5 cm (4.3–4.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: 4.5–5 g (0.16–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to Colombia’s Central Andes
🧭 Elevation: 3,800–5,200 m (12,470–17,060 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: High páramo grasslands dominated by Espeletia and scattered shrubs
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini "Coquettes and Thornbills" (high-Andean specialists)
📊 Status: Vulnerable (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.

Distribution: Confined to the Central Andes of Colombia, primarily in the Nevado del Ruiz, Paramillo del Quindío, and Tolima páramo regions. It occurs between 3,800 and 5,200 meters, favoring open grasslands, rocky slopes, and scattered shrub zones with abundant Espeletia (“frailejones”).

Species Overview

The Buffy Helmetcrest is one of Colombia’s rarest and most specialized hummingbirds. Distinguished by its golden-buff plumage, long white crest, and ornate facial plumes, it is perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of the páramo ecosystem. It represents one of four Oxypogon species, each isolated on separate Colombian cordilleras, an example of striking Andean endemism.

Male Description:
The male has bronzy-green upperparts, a buffy throat and breast, and rich golden-buff underparts. The long white crest and buffy facial plumes frame a dark mask, giving the bird its “helmeted” appearance. The tail is bronze-green with buffy tips, and the bill is short, straight, and black. The male often perches upright atop Espeletia stalks or rocks, fanning his tail and raising his crest in display.

Female Description:
The female is smaller and duller, with shorter crest feathers and paler buff coloration on the face and underparts. Her tail and upperparts are similar but less vividly iridescent.

Habitat & Behavior:
The species inhabits open páramo grasslands and shrubby slopes at extreme elevations. It feeds primarily on nectar from Espeletia, Puya, and Castilleja, and supplements its diet with small insects. Movements are local and seasonal, following the flowering cycle of Espeletia. The Buffy Helmetcrest is largely sedentary but may descend slightly during severe weather. It often perches conspicuously and, like other Oxypogon species, likely enters torpor at night to withstand freezing temperatures.

Conservation Note:
The Buffy Helmetcrest is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its restricted range and declining habitat quality. Key threats include livestock grazing, intentional burning, and agricultural expansion within páramo ecosystems. Although much of its range falls within Los Nevados National Natural Park, habitat degradation continues outside protected zones. The species depends on intact Espeletia-dominated páramo, making páramo conservation and restoration critical to its survival.