Introduction
The Neblina Metaltail (Metallura odomae) is a small hummingbird of the southern Ecuadorian and northern Peruvian Andes. It occupies humid high-elevation forest edges, elfin woodland and páramo shrubbery, where its bronzy-green plumage and reddish throat patch can be difficult to detect among mosses, shrubs and stunted trees.
Physical Description
The Neblina Metaltail measures approximately 10–11 centimetres in length and weighs about 5 grams. It has a short, straight, black bill and a slightly notched tail.
Adult males are mainly bronzy or olive-green, with iridescent coppery tones around the head and a conspicuous reddish, rosy or purplish throat patch. The tail is dark green with metallic reflections, while the lower plumage may appear finely buff or bronzy spotted.
Females are generally duller. Their throat and underparts are more heavily spotted, with a smaller or incomplete reddish throat patch, and the outer tail feathers may show pale tips. Juveniles resemble females and usually lack the full intensity of the adult male’s throat colour.
Range and Habitat
The species has a restricted range in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. In Ecuador, it occurs in Loja and adjacent southern provinces, including areas associated with Podocarpus National Park and the Cordillera de Sabanilla. In Peru, it is recorded from the northern departments of Piura and Cajamarca.
The Neblina Metaltail is associated with humid forest edges, elfin forest, high-elevation shrubbery and patches of low woodland near páramo. Reported elevations are approximately 2,600–3,650 metres, with many records concentrated around 2,900–3,400 metres. It is not known as a long-distance migrant, although local movements may occur in response to flowering conditions and weather.
Its habitat is often characterised by persistent cloud, mosses, ferns, bromeliads and flowering shrubs. The species is monotypic, with no widely recognised subspecies.
Where to See This Species
Podocarpus National Park, Loja Province, Ecuador
The Cajanuma sector and high-elevation areas above Cajanuma are among the best-documented places to look for the Neblina Metaltail. Search forest edges, elfin woodland and páramo shrubbery around the treeline, particularly where flowering plants attract hummingbirds. The species is local and may require patient searching.
Nearby accommodation: Loja is the most practical base, with hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation. Rural lodges and guesthouses may also be available in the surrounding mountain communities.
Bosque Protector Angashcola, Loja Province, Ecuador
Angashcola protects high-Andean cloud forest, páramo and shrub habitats in the Cordillera de Sabanilla. The area has documented records of the species and is a recognised birdwatching destination. Look along forest margins and upper trails where humid woodland gives way to lower, open vegetation.
Nearby accommodation: Amaluza and other settlements in the Espíndola area provide the nearest practical options, with simple guesthouses and locally arranged accommodation. Visitors should confirm access conditions before travelling.
Cerro Toledo, Loja Province, Ecuador
Cerro Toledo is a recognised high-elevation birding site with repeated field records of the Neblina Metaltail. The bird is usually sought in montane scrub, elfin forest edges and vegetation close to the treeline. Roadside and trail access can be weather-dependent, so local guidance is advisable.
Nearby accommodation: Loja or Vilcabamba are practical bases, offering hotels, guest houses, lodges and self-catering accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
The Neblina Metaltail is active during daylight and usually forages alone. Like other metaltails, it feeds mainly on nectar from flowering plants and supplements this diet with small insects and spiders, which provide protein and other nutrients.
Individuals may defend productive flowers or feeding areas from other hummingbirds. Short chases and rapid aerial manoeuvres are likely to be most noticeable where several hummingbirds gather around flowering shrubs.
Detailed information on the species’ breeding biology is limited. The original reports of a fixed breeding season, clutch size and incubation period should therefore be treated cautiously. As in other hummingbirds, the female is expected to build and tend the nest, while the male does not provide prolonged parental care.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, compact hummingbird in humid high-elevation scrub, elfin forest and páramo-edge vegetation.
- The overall colour is bronzy or olive-green rather than bright emerald.
- Adult males show a noticeable reddish or rosy throat patch, coppery tones on the head and a dark, subtly metallic tail.
- Females and juveniles are duller, with more extensive pale or buff spotting on the throat and underparts.
- The short, straight black bill and slightly notched tail are useful structural features.
- The species can be confused with other metaltails in the Andes. Range, elevation, the bronzy body colour and the pattern of the throat patch are more reliable than apparent tail colour alone.
Conservation Status
The Neblina Metaltail is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, although it has a restricted distribution and occurs at low density in parts of its range. A reliable global population estimate and a clearly established population trend are not available.
The principal concerns are the loss and degradation of high-Andean forest edges, elfin woodland and páramo vegetation. Agricultural expansion, grazing, burning, road development and habitat fragmentation may reduce or isolate suitable habitat. Protection of remaining cloud forest and páramo, maintenance of habitat corridors and careful management of tourism and land use are important conservation measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Neblina Metaltail found?
It occurs in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru, especially in Loja and nearby mountain areas of Ecuador and in northern Piura and Cajamarca in Peru.
What habitat does the Neblina Metaltail use?
It uses humid forest edges, elfin forest, high-elevation shrubbery and páramo vegetation, generally between about 2,600 and 3,650 metres.
How large is the Neblina Metaltail?
It is approximately 10–11 centimetres long and weighs about 5 grams.
What does the Neblina Metaltail eat?
Its diet consists mainly of nectar, supplemented by small insects and spiders. It is most often searched for around flowering shrubs and forest edges.
What does the Neblina Metaltail look like?
The species is a small bronzy-green hummingbird with a short black bill, a slightly notched tail and a reddish throat patch. Females and juveniles are duller and more heavily spotted below.
Is the Neblina Metaltail endangered?
It is currently classified as Least Concern, but its restricted range makes the protection of high-elevation cloud forest, elfin woodland and páramo habitat important.
References
- BirdLife International
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- IOC World Bird List
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