Royal Sunangel
Royal Sunangel (Heliangelus regalis)
Name Origin:
The genus Heliangelus combines the Greek hēlios (sun) and angelos (messenger), meaning “messenger of the sun.” The species name regalis is Latin for “royal,” referring to the bird’s rich coloration and striking appearance.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.0–4.5 g (0.14–0.16 oz)
🌎 Range: Andes of northern Peru and southern Ecuador
🧭 Elevation: 1,600–2,400 m
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest, particularly on isolated ridges and slopes
🧬 Clade: Lesbiini (a.k.a. “coquettes”)
📊 Status: Near Threatened (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Two subspecies:
Heliangelus regalis regalis
Distribution: Extreme southern Ecuador and northern Peru (Cajamarca, Amazonas), including the Cordillera del Cóndor and eastern Andean slope (San Martín, Loreto)Heliangelus regalis johnsoni
Distribution: Cordillera Azul of northern Peru
Species Overview
The Royal Sunangel is a rare and localized highland hummingbird, known for its vivid plumage and restricted range. Males are deep violet-blue with an intense electric sheen that flares in light. It inhabits isolated montane ridges and is most often found near flowering shrubs along forest edges or steep slopes. This species is vocal and active, often hovering in one place before darting off with a burst of energy.
Male Description:
Deep royal violet body with brighter blue throat and breast. Black wings and tail. The entire plumage reflects metallic hues depending on angle and light.
Female Description:
Duller overall with dark green upperparts and buffy underparts streaked with dusky tones. Lacks the intense iridescence of the male but still shows compact, energetic behavior.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found on humid, isolated Andean ridges and cloud forests between 1,600 and 2,400 meters. Prefers dense shrubby growth at forest edges and along steep slopes. Typically solitary or in loose pairs, feeding on nectar from a variety of montane flowering plants. It hovers frequently and may defend small flowering patches, but is generally less aggressive than other highland species.
Conservation Note:
The Royal Sunangel is listed as Near Threatened due to its small and fragmented range and ongoing habitat loss from mining and deforestation, particularly in southern Ecuador and northern Peru. While populations are stable in some protected sites like Abra Patricia, the species remains vulnerable to further habitat degradation. Long-term conservation will depend on safeguarding key ridge and slope habitats within its narrow elevation range.
Below is the Royal Sunangel (Heliangelus regalis regalis)
Photographed at ACP Abra Patricia–Trocha Royal Sunangel, Amazonas, Peru
These individuals belong to the subspecies regalis, which inhabits the eastern slope of the Andes in northern Peru (Amazonas, Cajamarca, San Martín, Loreto) and extreme southern Ecuador. This form is known for its vivid royal-blue iridescence and confined elevation range along isolated ridges. It favors humid montane forest with dense understory and is often detected by its sharp, high-pitched calls.
