The
fawn-breasted brilliant (
Heliodoxa rubinoides) is a bird in the
hummingbird family, Trochilidae. It is native to the
Andes of South America, occurring in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, at altitudes between 1,000 to 2,300 metres (3,300 to 7,500
ft), and feeds mainly on
nectar, as well as occasional small insects and spiders. The fawn-breasted brilliant has a patchy distribution, but is nonetheless classified as a
least-concern species by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is green above with iridescent copper underparts, and a long, slightly curved bill. Males perform courtship displays but do not assist with nesting. The female builds a camouflaged nest, lays two eggs, and raises the chicks alone. This fawn-breasted brilliant of the subspecies
H. r. aequatorialis was photographed in flight in the
Refugio Paz de las Aves, a nature reserve in the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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