Image via Macaulay Library
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
- Scientific name
- Eriocnemis aline
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Habitat
- Forest mixed
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) was first described by the French ornithologist Jules Bourcier in 1842. Belonging to the Trochilidae family, this species is native to the humid montane forests of the northern Andes, primarily found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its scientific name honors Aline, the daughter of a contemporary French collector, reflecting the 19th-century practice of naming newly discovered avian specimens after patrons or acquaintances of the scientific community.
The bird is distinguished by its namesake plumage, characterized by a metallic green belly and a contrasting white 'puff' of feathers on its legs, a common trait among the Eriocnemis genus. Its pointed wings and notched tail are evolutionary adaptations optimized for rapid, agile flight through dense forest understories. While it remains a subject of interest for taxonomists and conservationists, the species faces ongoing pressure due to habitat fragmentation within its limited high-altitude range.
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About Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Emerald-bellied Puffleg is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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