The Shining Sunbeam is a large, conspicuous hummingbird found at higher altitudes along both slopes of the Andes. It often perches in open areas and is fairly easy to spot. At first glance it appears to be rather plain, feathered in shades of brown and cinnamon. Its specific genus name, cupripennis, is a combination of the Latin words for “copper” and “winged,”; and the species is indeed sometimes called the Copper-Winged Hummingbird.
But seen from the back in just the right light, the Shining Sunbeam dazzles, with a lower back and rump aglow in iridescent shades of purple, green, and gold. The sexes look alike, although the female’s iridescent patch may be smaller.
The Shining Sunbeam can be easily distinguished from another large brown hummingbird of the Andes, the Rainbow Starfrontlet, due to a rather unique feature. What’s different about the Shining Sunbeam’s display coloration?
Read on to find out more:
https://abcbirds.org/bird/shining-sunbeam
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