Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mountain Velvetbreast
Lafresnaya lafresnayi
Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) — 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 Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.3 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 Lafresnaya
- Species lafresnayi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.3 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 Mountain Velvetbreast 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 Mountain Velvetbreast is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Venezuela to c Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 313,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mountain Velvetbreast?
The Mountain Velvetbreast is a very small bird that weighs around 5.3 g.
Where does the Mountain Velvetbreast live?
The Mountain Velvetbreast is found across South America with a range covering SA w Venezuela to c Peru, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mountain Velvetbreast belong to?
The Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Mountain Velvetbreast eat?
The Mountain Velvetbreast is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Mountain Velvetbreast migrate?
The Mountain Velvetbreast is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mountain Velvetbreast 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 Mountain Velvetbreast make?
1 real field recording of the Mountain Velvetbreast — 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 Mountain Velvetbreast's range?
The Mountain Velvetbreast has a mapped global range of about 313,000 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.