Photo: Christoph Moning / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Emerald-bellied Puffleg
Eriocnemis aline
Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.2 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 Eriocnemis
- Species aline
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.2 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to c Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.2 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 3.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 68,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Emerald-bellied Puffleg?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is a very small bird that weighs around 4.2 g.
Where does the Emerald-bellied Puffleg live?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to c Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Emerald-bellied Puffleg belong to?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis aline) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Emerald-bellied Puffleg eat?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Emerald-bellied Puffleg migrate?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Emerald-bellied Puffleg endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Emerald-bellied Puffleg's range?
The Emerald-bellied Puffleg has a mapped global range of about 68,000 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.