Photo: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-breasted Hillstar
Oreotrochilus melanogaster
Black-breasted Hillstar (Oreotrochilus melanogaster) — 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 Black-breasted Hillstar (Oreotrochilus melanogaster) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 9.1 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 melanogaster
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.1 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-breasted Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-breasted Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-breasted Hillstar (Oreotrochilus melanogaster) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA c Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 55,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-breasted Hillstar?
The Black-breasted Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 9.1 g.
Where does the Black-breasted Hillstar live?
The Black-breasted Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA c Peru, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-breasted Hillstar belong to?
The Black-breasted Hillstar (Oreotrochilus melanogaster) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-breasted Hillstar eat?
The Black-breasted Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-breasted Hillstar migrate?
The Black-breasted Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-breasted 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 Black-breasted Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the Black-breasted Hillstar — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-breasted Hillstar's range?
The Black-breasted Hillstar has a mapped global range of about 55,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
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Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Near Threatened
Not Evaluated
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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.