About Urochroa leucura Lawrence, 1864
The green-backed hillstar (scientific name Urochroa leucura Lawrence, 1864) measures 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long in total, which includes its approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) long bill. It weighs about 8.7 g (0.31 oz). Male and female green-backed hillstars have similar appearance, though females are somewhat duller than males. Adults have bronzy green upperparts with bronzy uppertail coverts, an iridescent blue throat and breast, and a dull gray belly. Their central tail feathers are bronzy, while the rest of the tail feathers are white with dusky gray outer edges. Juveniles resemble adults, but also have buffy fringes on their head feathers and a slight buffy malar streak. This species is found on the east slope of the Andes, ranging from southern Colombia through eastern Ecuador, with a separate isolated population in northeastern Peru. It lives in the interior and edges of mature montane forest and secondary forest, as well as on shrubby slopes, and is often found near streams. In Colombia and Ecuador, it generally occurs at elevations between 1,600 and 2,800 m (5,200 and 9,200 ft), and is most abundant around 1,800 m (5,900 ft). The Peruvian population is only known to occur between 800 and 1,500 m (2,600 and 4,900 ft) in elevation.
