Photo: Michael Woodruff from Spokane, Washington, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Golden-breasted Puffleg
Eriocnemis mosquera
Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) — 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 Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) 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 Eriocnemis
- Species mosquera
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 Golden-breasted 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 Golden-breasted Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w Colombia to nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 5.7 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 35,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Golden-breasted Puffleg?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg is a very small bird that weighs around 5.3 g.
Where does the Golden-breasted Puffleg live?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg is found across South America with a range covering SA w Colombia to nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Golden-breasted Puffleg belong to?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis mosquera) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Golden-breasted Puffleg eat?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Golden-breasted Puffleg migrate?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Golden-breasted 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.
How large is the Golden-breasted Puffleg's range?
The Golden-breasted Puffleg has a mapped global range of about 35,000 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.