Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Wedge-tailed Hillstar
Oreotrochilus adela
Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 7.9 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 Oreotrochilus
- Species adela
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.9 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 Wedge-tailed Hillstar 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 Wedge-tailed Hillstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.9 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 51,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Wedge-tailed Hillstar?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 7.9 g.
Where does the Wedge-tailed Hillstar live?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA c Bolivia to nw Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Wedge-tailed Hillstar belong to?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Wedge-tailed Hillstar eat?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Wedge-tailed Hillstar migrate?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Wedge-tailed 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 Wedge-tailed Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the Wedge-tailed 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 Wedge-tailed Hillstar's range?
The Wedge-tailed Hillstar has a mapped global range of about 51,000 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.