Photo: Nick Athanas / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-throated Hillstar
Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus
Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Oreotrochilus
- Species cyanolaemus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.1 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-throated 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 Blue-throated Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-throated Hillstar?
The Blue-throated Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 8.1 g.
Where does the Blue-throated Hillstar live?
The Blue-throated Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Ecuador, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Blue-throated Hillstar belong to?
The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Blue-throated Hillstar eat?
The Blue-throated Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Blue-throated Hillstar migrate?
The Blue-throated Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-throated Hillstar endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Blue-throated Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-throated Hillstar — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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.