Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-breasted Puffleg
Eriocnemis nigrivestis
Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) — 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-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Eriocnemis
- Species nigrivestis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-breasted 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 Black-breasted Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.7 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 78 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-breasted Puffleg?
The Black-breasted Puffleg is a very small bird that weighs around 8.5 g.
Where does the Black-breasted Puffleg live?
The Black-breasted Puffleg is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-breasted Puffleg belong to?
The Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-breasted Puffleg eat?
The Black-breasted Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-breasted Puffleg migrate?
The Black-breasted Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-breasted Puffleg endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Black-breasted Puffleg make?
1 real field recording of the Black-breasted Puffleg — 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 Black-breasted Puffleg's range?
The Black-breasted Puffleg has a mapped global range of about 78 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
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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.