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Birds of the World

    APODIFORMES: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)  
Genus: Chaetocercus (6 species)

Genus Chaetocercus are 'woodstars', which are tiny hummingbirds that resemble a large bumblebee when flying.


Santa Marta Woodstar
Santa Marta Woodstar (Chaetocercus astreans) Female
Range: SA: ne Colombia
ProAves El Dorado Reserve, Santa Marta Sierra Nevada, Magdalena, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Esmeraldas Woodstar
Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi) Female Vulnerable
Range: SA: w Ecuador
Ayampe, Manabí, Ecuador  
   
Photograph by Graham Montgomery   © All Rights Reserved.

An endangered Ecuadorian endemic species reliable at certain times of the year at a couple of sites in Manabí, including Ayampe and the Esmeralda Reserve, but not present (and whereabouts unknown) May to November (Athanas).

Little Woodstar
Little Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus) Male Near Threatened
Range: SA: sw Colombia to nc Peru
Yerbabuena, Peru  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

Little Woodstar
Little Woodstar (Chaetocercus bombus) Female Near Threatened
Range: SA: sw Colombia to nc Peru
Peru  
   
Photograph by Peter Hawrylyshyn   © All Rights Reserved.

On male and female note buff, not white, stripe around neck, and small size.

Gorgeted Woodstar
Gorgeted Woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor heliodor) Male
Range: SA: Venezuela to w Ecuador
La Vega, Cundinamarca, Colombia
  Note small size and flares at lower corners of gorget on male.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Gorgeted Woodstar
Gorgeted Woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor heliodor) Female
Range: SA: Venezuela to w Ecuador
Huila, Colombia
  Note buff throat and breast compared to female White-bellied Woodstar.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A very small and uncommon woodstar with a short bill. Found from 1000-3000 m. (ProAves).
Male in flight.
Female from back.
Immature male.

Rufous-shafted Woodstar
Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) Male
Range: SA: n Venezuela and n Colombia
La Azulita, Venezuela  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Rufous-shafted Woodstar
Rufous-shafted Woodstar (Chaetocercus jourdanii) Female
Range: SA: n Venezuela and n Colombia
La Azulita, Venezuela  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


White-bellied Woodstar
White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) Male
Range: SA: Colombia to c Bolivia
Guango Lodge, Ecuador
  White belly and altitude distinctive.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

White-bellied Woodstar
White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) Female
Range: SA: Colombia to c Bolivia
ProAves Dusky Starfrontlet Reserve, Urrao, Antioquia, Colombia
  Note white in throat and belly on female.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Large for a tiny woodstar, and found where it is cold, over 2500 m. (but much lower in Peru).
A bad photo that shows how woodstars lift their tail up and down to hover.
Good female flight shot.


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