Behold the Hillstar! The Hummingbird of the High Andes. A very sharp and icy morning in the central Andes of Chile. Just one hour drive from Santiago, Chile’s capital, and you can really feel the altitude and that characteristic hint of cold. But unexpected miracles happen here, at these heights, and rather metabolic ones!!! Hillstars are the most extreme of the hummingbirds as they are specialists to the high altitude and the harsh highland climate of the Andes. These relatively large hummers, with decurved bills and exquisite gorgets, are physiologically adapted to endure the extreme mountain low temperatures, by being torpid by night, and hide in caves and crevices during the frequent hail and snow storms, even during the summer months!
The genus Oreotrochilus comprises just three hillstar species, including the northern Chimborazo Hillstar from Ecuador, the puna specialist Andean Hillstar (present from Peru to Chile and Bolivia) and the more widespread White-sided Hillstar, ranging from central Chile and Argentina south to Patagonia.
Hillstars are unique among the hummingbird family due to their reverse role in territory defense, as females actively perform the protection of the nesting territory.
The exquisite images were taken by skilled bird photographer and naturalist Jorge Valenzuela in Farellones, near Santiago de Chile.
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