Photo: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-gaped Hillstar
Urochroa bougueri
Rufous-gaped Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) — 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 Rufous-gaped Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 11.4 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 Urochroa
- Species bougueri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar 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 Rufous-gaped Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Colombia to nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 40,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-gaped Hillstar?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 11.4 g.
Where does the Rufous-gaped Hillstar live?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Colombia to nw Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-gaped Hillstar belong to?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar (Urochroa bougueri) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous-gaped Hillstar eat?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous-gaped Hillstar migrate?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-gaped Hillstar 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 Rufous-gaped Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-gaped Hillstar — 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 Rufous-gaped Hillstar's range?
The Rufous-gaped Hillstar has a mapped global range of about 40,000 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.