Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Purple-backed Sunbeam
Aglaeactis aliciae
Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) — 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 Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 7 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 Aglaeactis
- Species aliciae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7 g, with a wing length of about 8.1 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 183 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Purple-backed Sunbeam?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is a very small bird that weighs around 7 g.
Where does the Purple-backed Sunbeam live?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is found across South America with a range covering SA n Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Purple-backed Sunbeam belong to?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Purple-backed Sunbeam eat?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Purple-backed Sunbeam migrate?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Purple-backed Sunbeam 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 Purple-backed Sunbeam make?
1 real field recording of the Purple-backed Sunbeam — 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 Purple-backed Sunbeam's range?
The Purple-backed Sunbeam has a mapped global range of about 183 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
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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.