Photo: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-tufted Sunbeam
Aglaeactis castelnaudii
White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) — 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-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.7 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 Aglaeactis
- Species castelnaudii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-tufted 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 White-tufted Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 23,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-tufted Sunbeam?
The White-tufted Sunbeam is a very small bird that weighs around 6.7 g.
Where does the White-tufted Sunbeam live?
The White-tufted Sunbeam is found across South America with a range covering SA Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-tufted Sunbeam belong to?
The White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-tufted Sunbeam eat?
The White-tufted Sunbeam is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the White-tufted Sunbeam migrate?
The White-tufted Sunbeam is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-tufted Sunbeam 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.
How large is the White-tufted Sunbeam's range?
The White-tufted Sunbeam has a mapped global range of about 23,000 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.