Photo: Charles Parzudaki / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-bearded Helmetcrest
Oxypogon lindenii
White-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon lindenii) — Hummingbirds of South America.
The White-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon lindenii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Oxypogon
- Species lindenii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon lindenii) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Venezuela.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8,643 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-bearded Helmetcrest?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is a very small bird that weighs around 4.8 g.
Where does the White-bearded Helmetcrest live?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Venezuela, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-bearded Helmetcrest belong to?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon lindenii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-bearded Helmetcrest eat?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the White-bearded Helmetcrest migrate?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-bearded Helmetcrest endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the White-bearded Helmetcrest make?
1 real field recording of the White-bearded Helmetcrest — 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 White-bearded Helmetcrest's range?
The White-bearded Helmetcrest has a mapped global range of about 8,643 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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Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
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.