Golden hummingbirds, or Heliodoxa leadbeateri, are a small species of hummingbird found in a very limited range in South America. They are renowned for their vibrant golden-green plumage which gleams brightly in sunlight. Understanding where these unique birds live helps us learn about their habitat needs and how best to conserve them.
What countries are golden hummingbirds found in?
Golden hummingbirds are endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America. Their range is confined to parts of Colombia and Ecuador. Specifically, they occur in localized areas of temperate forest and woodland in the following regions:
- Colombia – scattered populations in the Central Andes and Western Andes ranges
- Ecuador – mainly found in the Eastern Andes and occasional sightings in the Western Andes
So in summary, Colombia and Ecuador are the only two countries golden hummingbirds inhabit. Their distribution is patchy even within those countries, occupying certain suitable mountain forests.
What habitats and ecosystems do they prefer?
Golden hummingbirds are found exclusively in Andean cloud forest and temperate woodland habitats at higher elevations. The key features of their preferred habitat include:
- High elevations between around 1,900 – 3,300 m
- Misty, cool climate typical of cloud forest
- Abundant mossy vegetation
- Many flowering plants, bromeliads, and tree ferns
- Undisturbed primary forest with minimal human activity
They tend to avoid tropical lowland areas even within their limited range, staying mostly in mountainous regions. The cooler temperatures, plentiful blossoms, and mosses of cloud forest provide their optimal habitat.
What specific areas are population strongholds?
While golden hummingbirds have a relatively restricted overall range, their populations are concentrated in a few specific protected areas and reserves. The major strongholds where they thrive include:
- Northern Ecuador – Upper parts of the San Pablo Lake basin and Santa Rosa de Quijos in the Eastern Andes
- Southern Ecuador – Podocarpus National Park in the Eastern Andes
- Central Colombia – Tatamá National Park in the Cordillera Central
- Western Colombia – Frontino in the Cordillera Occidental
These areas consist of protected cloud forest where human activities like logging and agriculture are limited. Large tracts of undisturbed habitat provide everything golden hummingbirds need to flourish.
How does elevation affect their distribution?
Elevation is a key factor limiting golden hummingbird distribution and habitat. They are restricted to a relatively narrow band of high elevations in the Andes Mountains:
- Lower elevation limit: 1,900 m
- Upper elevation limit: 3,300 m
- Core elevation range: 2,000 – 3,000 m
This high-altitude band provides the cool, wet climate, abundant mosses and epiphytes, and flowering plants that golden hummingbirds require. At lower elevations the habitat becomes too warm and dry. At higher elevations the habitat becomes too barren and cold.
How might climate change affect their distribution?
Golden hummingbirds may face threats from climate change in the coming decades. As Andean cloud forests shift farther upslope due to warming temperatures, their highly specialized habitat could decline. Models predict the following potential impacts:
- Upward contraction of optimal elevation range
- Increased competition from lower-elevation hummingbird species
- Reduced availability of key flowering plant food sources
- Increased risk of disease and parasites in warmer conditions
Protected reserves that span a wide elevation gradient will be important to allow golden hummingbird populations to shift their range. Maintaining habitat connectivity will also help them adjust their distribution amidst climate changes.
Summary of where golden hummingbirds live
In summary, golden hummingbirds inhabit a very limited range of cloud forest and woodland habitats in the Andes Mountains of Colombia and Ecuador. Their distribution is patchy but concentrated in a few protected reserves and national parks. Elevation from around 1,900 – 3,300 m defines their preferred cool, moist, flowering-rich habitat. Climate changes pose future threats to the integrity of this specialized high elevation ecosystem.
Conclusion
Golden hummingbirds have one of the most restricted distributions of any hummingbird species, confined solely to localized highland cloud forests in the northern Andes. Colombia and Ecuador host the global population of these unique birds. Though their habitat is limited, protecting remaining old growth forest across an elevational gradient offers hope for conserving golden hummingbirds into the future. Further study of climate change impacts on high elevation ecosystems will be important to ensure the long-term survival of these glittering birds and their specialized habitat.
