Green-bearded Helmetcrest

Colombia

Jul 17

Green-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon guerinii)

Name Origin:
The genus Oxypogon derives from Greek oxys (“sharp” or “pointed”) and pogon (“beard”), describing the bird’s long, pointed crest and bearded chin. The species epithet guerinii honors Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville, a 19th-century French naturalist who described many Neotropical species.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 11–13 cm (4.3–5.1 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5.0–6.0 g (0.18–0.21 oz)
🌎 Range: Endemic to Colombia
🧭 Elevation: 3,200–5,200 m (10,500–17,000 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Páramo grassland, elfin forest edge, and montane scrub
🧬 Clade: Heliantheini “Brilliants” (high-Andean hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic species — no recognized subspecies.

Distribution: Found exclusively in the Eastern Andes of Colombia, from Santander south to Cundinamarca and Boyacá, typically between 3,200 and 5,200 meters. It inhabits páramo grasslands, shrubby slopes, and edges of elfin forest, where it forages among low shrubs and flowering plants such as Espeletia (frailejones).

Species Overview

The Green-bearded Helmetcrest is a striking Andean endemic, one of four species in the genus Oxypogon — all confined to high-elevation páramos of Colombia and Venezuela. Adapted to cold, oxygen-poor environments, it perches prominently atop Espeletia stems, where its iridescent green beard flashes in sunlight. Its plumage and shape are perfectly suited to life above the treeline, where few other hummingbirds can survive.

Male Description:
The male features a tall white crest, a black mask across the face, and a brilliant green beard on the throat. The upperparts are bronze-green, while the underparts are grayish-brown. The tail is dark bronze, slightly forked, and the bill is short and straight.

Female Description:
The female is similar but duller, with a shorter crest, reduced green iridescence on the throat, and warmer brown underparts.

Habitat & Behavior:
Occurs in páramo and high montane scrub, feeding primarily on Espeletia, Brachyotum, and Castilleja flowers. It often perches motionless on exposed stems, surveying its territory. The Green-bearded Helmetcrest is sedentary and highly territorial, frequently chasing intruding hummingbirds with rapid, buzzing flights despite thin mountain air.

Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Green-bearded Helmetcrest has a restricted but stable population within the Colombian Andes. Major threats include habitat degradation, burning of páramo vegetation, and climate change, which could alter the distribution of high-elevation flora. Fortunately, the species occurs in several protected areas, including Chingaza National Park, El Cocuy National Park, and Los Nevados National Park. Long-term conservation of páramo ecosystems and frailejón plant communities is essential for the continued survival of this remarkable Heliantheini jewel.