The Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris)

The Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) has a restricted range in middle-upper elevations from southern Ecuador to northern Peru. While it is named after the males’ iridescent and multi-coloured forehead, the colours can vary quite considerably, meaning the extensive chestnut, long bill and large size of the species are more diagnostic.

The Rainbow Starfrontlet (Coeligena iris) is a large South American hummingbird that is native to Ecuador and Peru, where they are fairly common. They inhabit subtropical or tropical humid montanes, high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forests - usually at elevations of 1,500 - 3,300 m. They are usually seen along the edges of forests and adjacent shrubby areas.