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Chile has a limited number of hummingbird species. This one, the green-backed or Austral firecrown, is the most widely distributed (it is also the most southerly of all hummingbirds, occurring as far south as Tierra del Fuego). They were common near my host's home in Valdivia, but tended to stay in the forest and are not as obvious as many North American hummers. Like many small Chilean birds, they are quickly attracted to the call of the Austral pygmy-owl, hovering close to a perched owl in an aggressive mobbing display. The photos were taken in deep shade with an electronic flash. The bird below is a male; I know this because he hovered in front of me for several seconds and showed a brilliant yellow-gold irridescence from his crown, but none of that shows in the flash-illuminated picture. |
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