Photo: Arthur Grosset / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Andean Hillstar
Oreotrochilus estella
Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Oreotrochilus
- Species estella
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.1 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andean Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Andean Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Peru to nw Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 596,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andean Hillstar?
The Andean Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 8.1 g.
Where does the Andean Hillstar live?
The Andean Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Peru to nw Argentina, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Andean Hillstar belong to?
The Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Andean Hillstar eat?
The Andean Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Andean Hillstar migrate?
The Andean Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Andean Hillstar endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Andean Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the Andean Hillstar — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Andean Hillstar's range?
The Andean Hillstar has a mapped global range of about 596,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.