Violet-tailed Sylph

While bird watching in the mountains of Ecuador near Quito at the San Jorge Tandayapa Lodge, we spotted this Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis). A male, his tail is quite conspicuous. The bronze on his shoulder, the matching violet at throat, and the straight black bill help to make the identification. He's also found in the mountains between 800 meters and 1950 meters.

The lodge hangs feeders where bird watchers are likely to spy dozens of different hummingbird varieties. When bird watching in Ecuador, it is helpful to have a GPS or altimeter to check where you are at since many species are only found in a given range.