Purple-backed Thornbill

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The Purple-backed Thornbill is a tiny, high-altitude hummingbird found in the Andes, distinctive for its short, straight bill and iridescent purple back (in males). It's often found foraging among small flowers and mosses.

Where to spot

Found in the high Andes from Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, inhabiting humid montane forests, páramo edges, and high-altitude shrublands, typically at elevations between 2,500 to 4,000 meters.

How to spot

Look for its minute size and very short bill. Males have a brilliant iridescent purple or purplish-blue back. It often gleans insects from foliage or feeds on small flowers. It can be easily overlooked due to its size and rapid, darting movements.

When to spot

Active throughout daylight hours, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Observable year-round in its habitat.

Where to spot

How to spot

When to spot

Active throughout daylight hours, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Observable year-round in its habitat.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Its tiny, needle-like bill is among the shortest relative to body size in the hummingbird family, making it highly specialized for extracting nectar from small, short-tubed flowers that other hummingbirds might overlook.

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