Photo: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-thighed Puffleg
Eriocnemis derbyi
Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) 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 Eriocnemis
- Species derbyi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 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-thighed Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-thighed Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia and nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 3.2 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 25,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-thighed Puffleg?
The Black-thighed Puffleg is a very small bird that weighs around 5.5 g.
Where does the Black-thighed Puffleg live?
The Black-thighed Puffleg is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia and nw Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-thighed Puffleg belong to?
The Black-thighed Puffleg (Eriocnemis derbyi) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Black-thighed Puffleg eat?
The Black-thighed Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Black-thighed Puffleg migrate?
The Black-thighed Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-thighed Puffleg 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-thighed Puffleg make?
1 real field recording of the Black-thighed 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-thighed Puffleg's range?
The Black-thighed Puffleg has a mapped global range of about 25,000 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.