Oasis Hummingbird

Chile

Jul 17

Oasis Hummingbird (Rhodopis vesper)

Name Origin:
The genus Rhodopis is derived from a famed Greek courtesan of antiquity, “Rhodopis,” reflecting elegance. The species name vesper means “evening” in Latin, perhaps referencing its low‑light or twilight activity.

Quick Facts
🪶 Length: ~11 cm
⚖️ Weight: ~4 g
🌎 Range: Desert and arid coastal zones of western Peru and northern Chile
🧭 Elevation: Near sea level up to ~3,800 m in some parts of Peru
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Arid scrub, oasis riparian zones, desert thickets, gardens
🧬 Clade: Mellisugini (a.k.a. “bees”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution
Three recognized subspecies:

Rhodopis vesper koepckeae
Distribution: Northwest Peru (Cerro Illescas in southwestern Piura)
Rhodopis vesper vesper
Distribution: Western Peru south from Lambayeque into extreme northern Chile (Tarapacá)
Rhodopis vesper atacamensis
Distribution: Northern Chile (Atacama) and possibly south into Coquimbo

Species Overview
The Oasis Hummingbird is a specialized resident of arid desert landscapes and isolated oases along the Pacific slope of Peru and Chile. It features an olive‑green upper body, cinnamon‑rufous rump, and in males a striking rosy‑violet to purple gorget that can shift to turquoise under certain light. The tail is deeply forked in males. It adapts well to semi‑open habitats, gardens and agricultural fringes within these dry zones.

Male Description:
Olive‑green upperparts, cinnamon rump, dusky underparts with white or pale vestiges, deeply forked tail with purplish brown outer feathers, long decurved black bill, and bold gorget.

Female Description:
Greener above, paler underparts (buff or gray‑white), shorter tail with less fork, and no prominent gorget.

Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits arid scrub, lomas (fog‑drip zones), desert oasis patches, gardens and irrigated areas. It forages on flowering shrubs, ephemerals and garden plants, as well as catches small insects. It is largely sedentary but may make local shifts with flowering events and moisture availability. Males display near territorial flower‑patches and are fairly tolerant of human‑modified habitats.

Conservation Note:
Although the Oasis Hummingbird occupies a narrow band of arid habitat along the Pacific slope, it is currently assessed as Least Concern due to its somewhat broad range, occurrence in several protected and semi‑modified areas, and apparent stable population trend. Continued monitoring is advisable given its habitat specialization and vulnerability to desertification, changes in irrigation/agriculture and coastal development.

Below is the Oasis Hummingbird (Rhodopis vesper vesper)

Photographed at Valle de Azapa – Santuario del Picaflor, Arica, Arica y Parinacota, Chile

These individuals belong to the subspecies vesper, which ranges from southern Lambayeque, Peru south into extreme northern Chile, including the region of Tarapacá. It occurs in arid coastal valleys, desert scrub, and oasis habitats from sea level to lower montane elevations. This form shows a standard-sized forked tail, male gorget with deep magenta tones, and slightly duller plumage than southern populations.