Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Shining Sunbeam
Aglaeactis cupripennis
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 7.6 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 cupripennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.6 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shining 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 Shining Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Colombia to Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.2 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 225,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shining Sunbeam?
The Shining Sunbeam is a very small bird that weighs around 7.6 g.
Where does the Shining Sunbeam live?
The Shining Sunbeam is found across South America with a range covering SA Colombia to Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Shining Sunbeam belong to?
The Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Shining Sunbeam eat?
The Shining Sunbeam is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Shining Sunbeam migrate?
The Shining Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shining 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 Shining Sunbeam make?
1 real field recording of the Shining Sunbeam — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shining Sunbeam's range?
The Shining Sunbeam has a mapped global range of about 225,000 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.