Photo: jose_balderrama / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-hooded Sunbeam
Aglaeactis pamela
Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) — Hummingbirds of South America.
The Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.5 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 Aglaeactis
- Species pamela
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-hooded 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 Black-hooded Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.1 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 17,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-hooded Sunbeam?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam is a very small bird that weighs around 5.5 g.
Where does the Black-hooded Sunbeam live?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam is found across South America with a range covering SA Bolivia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-hooded Sunbeam belong to?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-hooded Sunbeam eat?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-hooded Sunbeam migrate?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-hooded Sunbeam 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 Black-hooded Sunbeam make?
1 real field recording of the Black-hooded 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 Black-hooded Sunbeam's range?
The Black-hooded Sunbeam has a mapped global range of about 17,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
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.