About Eriocnemis mosquera (Delattre & Bourcier, 1846)
The golden-breasted puffleg, scientifically named Eriocnemis mosquera, has an overall length of roughly 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) and an average weight of about 5.3 g (0.19 oz). It has a straight black bill. Males have shining green upperparts, with a more bronze-tinged green nape and rump. Most of their underparts are glittering golden green, while the lower throat and upper breast are coppery bronze, the undertail coverts are brownish, and the leg puffs are pure white. The tail is forked; its central feathers are blue-green, and the two outer pairs are dark green to blue-black. Females are slightly smaller than males, have slightly greener undertail coverts, and are otherwise similar in appearance to males.
The golden-breasted puffleg inhabits the Central and Western Andes of Colombia, with a small number of records from the Eastern Andes of the country. It is also found along most of the length of the Andes in Ecuador. This species lives in edges and clearings of stunted montane forest, elfin forest, and shrubby zones located near treeline. In Colombia, it occurs at elevations between 1,200 and 3,600 m (3,900 and 11,800 ft), but is most commonly found above 2,600 m (8,500 ft). In Ecuador, it mostly lives at elevations between 3,000 and 3,600 m (9,800 and 11,800 ft).
