Bird Watching in Machu Picchu: A Guide to Hummingbirds
Bird Watching in Machupicchu is not only a world-famous archaeological wonder but also a paradise for bird watchers. The lush cloud forests surrounding the ancient ruins are home to an incredible variety of hummingbirds, each with unique characteristics and behaviors. Here’s a guide to some of the most remarkable hummingbird species you can spot in and around Machu Picchu.
Hummingbirds of Machu Picchu
1. Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy) Bird Watching in Machupicchu.
- Size: 13 cm, bill 4 cm (long, curved) peru bird
- Appearance: Dark bronzy green with a bluish rump, black mask framed by a rusty supercilium
- Habitat: Humid pre-montane forests, secondary growth, and overgrown gardens
- Behavior: Feeds on nectar by “trap-lining” flowers, also takes spiders from webs
- Call: Loud ‘tsweep’; lek song is a nasal ‘heweet…heweet…’
- Best Spotting Locations: Mandor Valley, below 2200m .Amazing birding Peru
2. Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini) Bird Watching in Machupicchu .
- Size: 16 cm, bill 2.7 cm (exceptionally curved)
- Appearance: Dark bronzy above, cinnamon-buff underparts with black streaking
- Habitat: Humid pre-montane forests, forest edges, and Heliconia thickets
- Behavior: Retiring and hard to spot; feeds on nectar and small insects
- Nesting: Uses spider webs to attach the nest to leaves
- Best Spotting Locations: Below 2500m, occasionally up to 3300m – peru bird
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3. Green Violetear (Colibri thalassinus) Bird Watching in Machupicchu.
- Size: 11 cm, bill 1.8 cm (slightly curved)
- Appearance: Blue-green with a metallic sheen, blue central belly, and purple ear feathers
- Habitat: Open shrubby mountain slopes, pastures, forest edges
- Behavior: Aggressive, with a distinct undulating display flight
- Best Spotting Locations: Inca Trail between Intipunku and Machu Picchu ruins (1500–3000m) -andean peru bird
4. Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) Bird Watching in Machupicchu .
- Size: 14 cm, bill 2.5 cm (slightly curved)
- Appearance: Blue-green with metallic sheen, blue belly, elongated ear plumes
- Habitat: Dry open areas, gardens, secondary growth, eucalyptus stands
- Behavior: Highly territorial, aggressive towards other hummingbirds
- Best Spotting Locations: Wayllabamba along the Inca Trail (2000–4000m) traditional peru bird
5. Green-and-White Hummingbird (Leucippus viridicauda) (Peruvian Endemic)
- Size: 11 cm, bill 2.7 cm (almost straight) peru bird
- Appearance: Brilliant bronzy-green upperparts, white underparts
- Habitat: Humid forest edges, secondary growth, gardens
- Behavior: Feeds on nectar, hawks for small insects
- Best Spotting Locations: Along the Urubamba River, El Pueblo Hotel gardens (1200–2500m)
6. White-bellied Hummingbird (Leucippus chionogaster) Bird Watching in Machupicchu.
- Size: 11 cm, bill 2.5 cm (almost straight)
- Appearance: Similar to Green-and-White Hummingbird but with white inner tail webs
- Habitat: Bushy ravines, stream-sides, eucalyptus groves
- Behavior: Prefers drier habitats than its close relative
- Best Spotting Locations: Cusichaca Valley, Inca Trail (1000–2800m) andean birding peru
7. Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys)
- Size: 10 cm, bill 1.4 cm (short, straight)
- Appearance: Dark bronzy above, whitish-buff below with speckles
- Habitat: Humid pre-montane forests, watercourse edges
- Behavior: Often seen foraging alone in the under-story
- Best Spotting Locations: Urubamba River at Machu Picchu (1200–2800m)
8. Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas)
- Size: 23 cm, bill 3.5 cm (straight, thick)
- Appearance: Largest hummingbird in the world, with long, narrow wings
- Habitat: Open arid slopes, cactus-filled valleys, and gardens
- Behavior: Erratic wingbeats, often hovers like a swallow
- Best Spotting Locations: Llactapata ruins (2500–4000m)
Bird Watching Tips for Machu Picchu
- Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon
- Equipment: Binoculars (8×42 recommended), camera with a zoom lens
- Recommended Trails: Inca Trail, Mandor Valley, Urubamba River banks
- What to Look For: Flashing iridescent feathers, hovering behavior, distinct calls
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