Photo: Juan José Arango / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buffy Helmetcrest
Oxypogon stuebelii
Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) — 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 Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Oxypogon
- Species stuebelii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buffy Helmetcrest is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Buffy Helmetcrest is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Colombia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4,080 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buffy Helmetcrest?
The Buffy Helmetcrest is a very small bird that weighs around 4.8 g.
Where does the Buffy Helmetcrest live?
The Buffy Helmetcrest is found across South America with a range covering SA c Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Buffy Helmetcrest belong to?
The Buffy Helmetcrest (Oxypogon stuebelii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Buffy Helmetcrest eat?
The Buffy Helmetcrest is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Buffy Helmetcrest migrate?
The Buffy Helmetcrest is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Buffy Helmetcrest endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Buffy Helmetcrest make?
1 real field recording of the Buffy Helmetcrest — 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 Buffy Helmetcrest's range?
The Buffy Helmetcrest has a mapped global range of about 4,080 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.