Shining Sunbeam vs Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Aglaeactis cupripennis compared with Ocreatus addae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Shining Sunbeam | Rufous-booted Racket-tail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglaeactis cupripennis | Ocreatus addae |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | — |
| Weight | 7.540000000000001 g (0.27 oz) | 3.0 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of high Andean páramo and puna; visits Chuquiraga, Puya, and Ericaceae flowers. Catches small … | Nectarivore of Bolivian and Peruvian cloud forest; visits Ericaceae and bromeliads. Gleans small insects from … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Shining Sunbeam
Soft, sibilant twittering with silvery quality; high, airy notes cascading gently near high-altitude Polylepis flowers.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Deep, resonant hum barely audible; extremely low vibration barely perceptible during hovering near high-altitude flowers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Shining Sunbeam
Widespread in Andean cloud forests and shrubby páramo from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia. 2,000–4,300 m.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Found in cloud forests of northern Bolivia and adjacent Peru and Brazil at 400–1,400 m elevation.
Conservation Status
Shining Sunbeam
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
How to Tell Them Apart
Shining Sunbeam
Colorful Puffleg: males with brilliant multicolored gorget; metallic green above; white belly; females green above; spotted below
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
Golden-bellied Starfrontlet: tiny; males with brilliant orange-gold belly; violet gorget; females green above; spotted buff below
About These Birds
Shining Sunbeam
A medium-sized hummingbird (12-13 cm) found in Andean cloud forests from Colombia to Bolivia at 2,500-3,800 m. Coppery-bronze plumage that shines with iridescent sunbeam-like reflections. Nectarivore of montane forest edges and páramo shrubs.
Rufous-booted Racket-tail
A small hummingbird (8-10 cm plus tail rackets) found in Andean cloud forests of southeastern Peru and Bolivia at 1,200-2,200 m. Males have rufous leg puffs instead of white. Recently split from Booted Racket-tail. Nectarivore of montane forest undergrowth.