Olivaceous Thornbill (Chalcostigma olivaceum)
Originally uploaded by rgibbo3
I finally got an OK photo of this outstanding bird. The Olivaceous Thornbill is one of two hummingbirds I see regularly in my study sites. This field season I had the help of two Peruvian botanists; they were extremely knowledgeable and answered all my pesky questions. The small red flowers in the photo are one of three species of Gentianella; each of the three species has a different color: red, fuschia, and purple. Every time I found Olivaceous Thornbill, there was a patch of Gentianella close by. I believe this and insects are the majority of its diet.
There are reports of this species walking, but in the twenty or so times I've seen it, it has always fluttered rather clumsily from one flower to the next alighting on the ground. I would really like to see a video clip of this species walking.
Although you can't see it in this photo, the male has a narrow gorget that shimmers a brilliant spectrum of colors if at just the right angle. I'll have to keep trying for that shot.
