Photo: Opisska / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-sided Hillstar
Oreotrochilus leucopleurus
White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) — 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 White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 8.2 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 leucopleurus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.2 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-sided Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-sided Hillstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Bolivia to s Argentina and Chile.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 404,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-sided Hillstar?
The White-sided Hillstar is a very small bird that weighs around 8.2 g.
Where does the White-sided Hillstar live?
The White-sided Hillstar is found across South America with a range covering SA s Bolivia to s Argentina and Chile, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-sided Hillstar belong to?
The White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-sided Hillstar eat?
The White-sided Hillstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the White-sided Hillstar migrate?
The White-sided Hillstar is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the White-sided 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 White-sided Hillstar make?
1 real field recording of the White-sided Hillstar — 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-sided Hillstar's range?
The White-sided Hillstar has a mapped global range of about 404,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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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.