Olivaceous thornbill

Chalcostigma olivaceum

Photo by Steve Arlow (Neotropical Birds)

Common name:
olivaceous thornbill (en); colibri-oliváceo (pt); métallure olivâtre (fr); colibrí oliváceo (es); braunes glanzschwänzchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed along the high Andes of southern Peru and northern Bolivia, from the Cordillera Blanca south to La Paz.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 6,5-9 g.

Habitat:
The olivaceous thornbill is mostly found in puna grasslands and around cushion plants, also using low scrublands and the edges of dense Polylepis-Gynoxys woodlands. They are only found at altitudes of 3.100-4.700 m.

Diet:
They eat both nectar and small arthropods, being known to visit prostrate red flowers such as Gentianella sp. and possibly Castilleja sp.

Breeding:
Olivaceous thornbills breed in January-May. Males are territorial and possibly have little part in the breeding process after mating. The female lays 2 eggs which she incubates alone. There is no available information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range but is described as uncommon or rare. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats