Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Inca
Coeligena prunellei
Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) — 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 Inca (Coeligena prunellei) 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 Coeligena
- Species prunellei
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7 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 Black Inca 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 Black Inca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nc Colombia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 5 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 6,383 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Inca?
The Black Inca is a very small bird that weighs around 7 g.
Where does the Black Inca live?
The Black Inca is found across South America with a range covering SA nc Colombia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Inca belong to?
The Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black Inca eat?
The Black Inca is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black Inca migrate?
The Black Inca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Inca 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 Black Inca make?
1 real field recording of the Black Inca — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Inca's range?
The Black Inca has a mapped global range of about 6,383 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.