Pirre Hummingbird

The Pirre hummingbird, Goldmania bella, is a diminutive avian jewel, measuring a mere 8.4 to 9.5 cm in length. Males, slightly lighter, tip the scales at about 3.0 to 3.5 grams, while females weigh in at 3.0 to 4.0 grams. Both sexes boast a slightly decurved bill, a black maxilla, and a pink mandible with a black tip, adding a touch of elegance to their visage.

Identification Tips

Males are distinguished by their chestnut forehead and lores, and a metallic green sheen adorns their crown, back, rump, and uppertail coverts, with the lower back and rump displaying a bronzy hue. Their tail feathers are a study in contrast, with bronze green bases and black tips, while the rest are a warm cinnamon buff with black tips. The male's underparts shimmer with a bluish-green iridescence, and their undertail coverts are a pristine white. Females, on the other hand, lack the chestnut forehead of the males and are cloaked in green from their upperparts to their lores, with underparts of a pale cinnamon buff.

Habitat

This species favors the understory of humid montane forests, thriving at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,650 meters.

Distribution

The Pirre hummingbird graces the isolated ridges of eastern Darién Province in Panama and extends its range into the adjacent Chocó Department in Colombia.

Behaviour

While the details of the Pirre hummingbird's movements remain a mystery, it is known to forage from the forest floor to the mid-levels, seeking the sweet nectar of flowers.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Pirre hummingbird is not well-documented, but it is known to produce a single sharp note, repeated in a long series while perched, the purpose of which remains an enigma.

Breeding

The breeding behaviors and nesting characteristics of the Pirre hummingbird are shrouded in mystery, awaiting discovery by intrepid ornithologists.

Diet and Feeding

The Pirre hummingbird's diet is not fully described, but observations confirm it feeds on nectar from Cephalus shrubs. It is also presumed to partake in small arthropods, as is common among its hummingbird kin.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Pirre hummingbird as Near Threatened. Its range is limited, and within this range, it occupies a scant number of locations. The highland forests it calls home remain relatively untouched, thanks to their inaccessibility and protected status. However, the population size and trend are unknown, and due to its high-elevation habitat, it faces potential threats from climate change. Depending on the location, it may be considered rare to very common.