Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Chestnut-breasted Coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii)
Name Origin:
The genus name Boissonneaua honors Auguste Boissonneau, a 19th-century French naturalist who described numerous Neotropical hummingbirds. The species name matthewsii commemorates Andrew Matthews, an English naturalist who collected extensively in South America.
Quick Facts
ðŠķ Length: 11â12 cm (4.3â4.7 in)
âïļ Weight: 6.5â7.5 g (0.23â0.26 oz)
ð Range: Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia
ð§ Elevation: 1,500â3,000 m (4,900â9,840 ft)
ðļ Diet: Nectar and small insects
ðĄ Habitat: Humid montane forest, forest edge, and shaded clearings
𧎠Clade: Heliantheini "Brilliants" (Andean forest hummingbirds)
ð Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.
Distribution: Found throughout the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia, occupying humid montane and cloud forests between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. It frequents forest edges, secondary growth, and gardens, often near flowering trees and shrubs.
Species Overview
The Chestnut-breasted Coronet is one of the most distinctive and common highland hummingbirds of the northern and central Andes. Its vivid combination of emerald-green upperparts and rich chestnut underparts makes it unmistakable. Bold and aggressive, it is a familiar sight at forest feeders and flowering shrubs, where it often dominates other hummingbirds.
Male Description:
The male has metallic green upperparts and throat, a deep chestnut breast and belly, and rufous-buff underwing coverts. The tail is bronze-green, and the wings are rufous-brown. The crown and back shimmer golden-green in sunlight, and the bill is short, straight, and black. Males are highly territorial, often hovering with spread tails and loud wing buzzes.
Female Description:
The female closely resembles the male but is slightly duller overall, with a narrower and paler chestnut breast band and fainter iridescence on the upperparts. The throat may show light green mottling.
Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid montane forests and forest edges, ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters. It feeds on nectar from Fuchsia, Bomarea, Besleria, and Palicourea, as well as small arthropods. The Chestnut-breasted Coronet is highly territorial, performing loud chase flights and defending feeding areas vigorously. It is a frequent visitor to feeders and can be found year-round in suitable forested regions.
Conservation Note:
The Chestnut-breasted Coronet is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread and common throughout its range. It adapts readily to secondary growth and forest-edge habitats, and even thrives in gardens. Local threats include deforestation and habitat fragmentation, but its adaptability and broad elevational distribution provide resilience. Continued protection of Andean montane forest corridors ensures the long-term health of this vibrant Heliantheini species.
