Violet-tailed Sylph

Last fall I took a trip down to Ecuador that was simply fantastic. I saw over 230 bird species and spent most of my time in the Andes from 7,000-14,500 ft. Hummingbirds were a real highlight, and I saw 42 species during my 10 days.

Hummingbirds have some of the most colorful names among birds. You'll find trainbearers, thorntails, sunbeams, starfrontlets, brilliants, mountain-gems, woodnymphs, and of course the gorgeous sylphs like the one pictured here. The Violet-tailed Sylph is one of three sylph species to inhabit South America. The males have long tail feathers of 6-7 inches that dance in the air as these birds fly quickly through the forest. Sylphs are mentioned occasionally in literature to describe "invisible beings of the air" or fairies.

I found it difficult to get a good photograph of this species. I was always capturing just a portion of the tail or the entire bird was framed against a very distracting background of jumbled sticks. Finally on day 5 when we were about to switch to the other side of the Andes (home of the Long-tailed Sylph) I had success with this bird. Hope you enjoy!