White-bellied Hummingbird
White-bellied Hummingbird (Elliotomyia chionogaster)
Name Origin:
The genus Elliotomyia honors American ornithologist Daniel Giraud Elliot. The species name chionogaster comes from Greek chion (snow) and gaster (belly), a reference to its striking white underparts.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~3.5–4.5 g (0.12–0.16 oz)
🌎 Range: Eastern slopes of the Andes from Peru to NW Argentina
🧭 Elevation: 1,500–3,400 m (4,900–11,200 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest edges, scrub, gardens, and open woodlands
🧬 Clade: Trochilini – Emeralds
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Two recognized subspecies:
Elliotomyia chionogaster chionogaster
Distribution: Eastern slope of the Andes in Peru, from southern Amazonas to Cuzco.Elliotomyia chionogaster hypoleuca
Distribution: Southeastern Peru (Puno), Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina (south to La Rioja); possibly also in eastern central Brazil (Mato Grosso).
Species Overview
The White-bellied Hummingbird is a medium-sized Andean species, known for its bright white underparts and iridescent green upperparts. Its modest appearance is offset by its active, fluttery movements and preference for mid-elevation montane forests.
Male Description:
Bright metallic green upperparts, pure white belly, and slightly forked dark tail. Bill is straight and black. A small patch of blue or green may be present on the throat, varying by individual and angle.
Female Description:
Similar to the male, but duller with less gloss and a slightly grayer breast. Tail is shorter and rounder, with subtle pale tips on outer feathers.
Habitat & Behavior:
This hummingbird is usually seen at mid to upper elevations on the eastern slopes of the Andes. It frequents the edges of cloud forests, shrubby clearings, and gardens. Nectar is taken from low to mid-level flowers, often while hovering. Insects are also caught via quick aerial sallies. It is typically solitary and not particularly aggressive.
Conservation Note:
Despite its somewhat patchy range, this species is fairly common in suitable habitat and benefits from its tolerance of disturbed and semi-open environments. It is not currently at risk, though continued habitat fragmentation may affect some local populations.
White-bellied Hummingbird (Elliotomyia chionogaster chionogaster)
📸 Photographed at:
Reserva Privada Santos Montenegro, Amazonas, Peru
These individuals belong to the nominate subspecies chionogaster, which occurs along the eastern slope of the Andes from southern Amazonas to Cuzco in Peru. It favors humid montane forest edges and open disturbed areas at elevations of 1,500–3,400 meters (4,900–11,200 ft). Like hypoleuca, it shows pale underparts and green upperparts, with only subtle regional variation.
White-bellied Hummingbird (Elliotomyia chionogaster hypoleuca)
📸 Photographed at:
Provincial Potrero De Yala Park, Capital, Jujuy, Argentina
Comision Municipal San Francisco, Valle Grande, Jujuy, Argentina
These individuals belong to the subspecies hypoleuca, found on the eastern slope of the Andes in southeastern Peru (Puno), Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina (south to La Rioja). It inhabits humid montane forest edges, shrubby openings, and transitional zones between 1,500–3,400 meters (4,900–11,200 ft). This subspecies is very similar in appearance to the nominate, with minimal morphological variation, but is geographically distinct.
