Black-breasted Puffleg

Eriocnemis nigrivestis (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1852)

8–9 cmLength8.5 gWeight

The black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), known as zamarrito pechinegro in Spanish, is a species of hummingbird native to Ecuador.

Busiest months: October · Most records: Ecuador

Endangered

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October · Most records: Ecuador

Black-breasted Puffleg has been recorded at 2 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Reserva YanacochaEcuador157 records
Reserva Zuro LomaEcuador156 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Ecuador

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The black-breasted puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), known as zamarrito pechinegro in Spanish, is a species of hummingbird native to Ecuador. It is Endangered, with an estimated 100–150 individuals remaining in the wild.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Black-breasted Puffleg?

The Black-breasted Puffleg is about 8–9 cm long and weighs around 8.5 g.

Where does the Black-breasted Puffleg live?

Its breeding range: South America: northwestern Ecuador. It is most often recorded in Ecuador.

When is the best time to see the Black-breasted Puffleg?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Black-breasted Puffleg endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-breasted Puffleg as Endangered.

What does the Black-breasted Puffleg eat?

Main food: Nectar.

What family is the Black-breasted Puffleg in?

It belongs to the family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae), order Apodiformes.

At a glance

Length: 8–9 cm
Weight: 8.5 g
Habitat: Forest
Diet: Nectar
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation: Endangered

More measurements

Wing: 57 mm
Tail: 35 mm
Bill: 19 mm
Tarsus: 5 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: northwestern Ecuador

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order: Apodiformes
Family: Hummingbirds Trochilidae
Genus: Eriocnemis

Other birds in the genus Eriocnemis

Gorgeted PufflegEriocnemis isabellae

Glowing PufflegEriocnemis vestita

Black-thighed PufflegEriocnemis derbyi

Turquoise-throated PufflegEriocnemis godini

Coppery-bellied PufflegEriocnemis cupreoventris

Sapphire-vented PufflegEriocnemis luciani

Golden-breasted PufflegEriocnemis mosquera

Blue-capped PufflegEriocnemis glaucopoides

Colorful PufflegEriocnemis mirabilis

Emerald-bellied PufflegEriocnemis aline

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Paul Molina Abril. ↗

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