Introduction
The Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) is a small hummingbird native to Chile and Argentina. Also known in Chile as the Picaflor Chico and in Argentina as the Picaflor Rubí, it is recognised for the male’s iridescent red-orange crown, green upperparts and fast, agile flight. It is one of the most southerly breeding hummingbirds in the world.
Physical Description
The Green-backed Firecrown measures approximately 10–11 cm in length and weighs about 5–6 g. It has a slender, straight black bill, pointed wings and a relatively short tail. Both sexes have green upperparts and pale greyish or whitish underparts, but the adult male is more colourful.
The male has an iridescent crown that can appear red, orange, copper or golden depending on the light. His throat and breast may show green and bronze reflections. The female lacks the male’s bright crown and is generally more subdued, with green upperparts, paler underparts and fine dusky markings around the throat.
Juveniles resemble females. Young birds may show rufous fringes on the crown, back and throat feathers, and young males develop the adult crown gradually. The species is sometimes confused with other small Chilean hummingbirds, but the combination of a green back, compact shape and the male’s fiery crown is distinctive.
Range and Habitat
The Green-backed Firecrown occurs across much of Chile, from the northern part of the country southwards to Tierra del Fuego, and in western and southern Argentina. It also occurs on islands of the Juan Fernández archipelago, where its presence is separate from that of the endemic Juan Fernández Firecrown.
It uses a wide range of habitats, including temperate rainforest, woodland edges, shrubland, forest clearings, plantations, gardens and urban green spaces. In Chile it has been recorded from sea level to at least 2,000 metres. Southern populations may move seasonally or altitudinally, while birds in milder areas can remain resident. During the non-breeding season, many birds from southern breeding areas move towards central Chile and parts of Argentina.
Flower-rich habitats are especially important. Native flowering plants, forest margins and gardens can all provide feeding opportunities, although habitat loss and changes in vegetation may reduce the continuity of suitable food resources.
Where to See This Species
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Los Lagos Region, Chile
CONAF lists the Green-backed Firecrown among the park’s notable bird species. Forest edges, flowering vegetation and clearings around accessible areas such as Petrohué, Ensenada and Peulla provide suitable places to search, particularly during the warmer months when flowers and insect prey are available.
Nearby accommodation: Ensenada and Puerto Varas offer hotels, guest houses, cabins, campsites and other visitor accommodation close to park access points.
Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, Los Lagos and Palena regions, Chile
The species is included in the park’s official fauna list. Its extensive temperate rainforest, forest margins and flowering clearings make the park a realistic location for observing the species in southern Chile. Look around forest tracks, campsites and open areas, while taking care not to disturb feeding or nesting birds.
Nearby accommodation: Camping is available in parts of the park, while Hornopirén, El Amarillo and Chaitén provide additional campsites, cabins, guest houses and other accommodation.
Fray Jorge National Park, Coquimbo Region, Chile
Green-backed Firecrowns have been documented in Fray Jorge, including during studies of the species’ breeding biology and parasites. The park’s unusual relic forest, shrubland and flowering vegetation provide habitat in an otherwise semi-arid landscape. Seasonal conditions can influence bird activity and the availability of flowers.
Nearby accommodation: Ovalle is the principal practical base, with hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation. Visitors should check current access conditions before travelling.
Behaviour and Diet
The Green-backed Firecrown is active and agile, often hovering in front of flowers or making short sallies from a perch. It may defend productive flowers or feeding patches from other hummingbirds and can behave aggressively around nectar sources. It is usually seen alone while feeding, although several birds may gather where food is abundant.
Nectar forms the main part of its diet. The species visits both native and introduced flowers, including fuchsias and other tubular or nectar-rich plants. It also catches small insects and spiders, which provide protein and other nutrients, especially during the breeding season. As it moves between flowers, it can transfer pollen and contribute to the reproduction of native plants.
Breeding takes place during the austral spring and summer in much of the southern range, although timing varies geographically. The female builds a small, camouflaged cup nest using materials such as moss, plant fibres, lichens and spider silk. She usually lays two eggs and undertakes incubation and chick-rearing alone. Published accounts report an incubation period of roughly two weeks and fledging at about three weeks after hatching, with variation possible between nests and locations.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, compact hummingbird with a green back, narrow pointed wings and a straight black bill.
- Adult males show a brilliant red-orange or coppery crown when the light catches the feathers. The crown may look dull or dark from some angles.
- Females and juveniles lack the adult male’s bright crown and appear greener and plainer overall.
- The species is often found at flowering shrubs, woodland edges, gardens and forest clearings rather than only in dense forest.
- In southern Chile and Argentina, its range and habitat help separate it from many other hummingbirds. In central Chile, careful attention is needed because several small hummingbirds may occur in gardens and open woodland.
Conservation Status
The Green-backed Firecrown is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It remains widespread and uses modified habitats, including gardens and urban areas, but its population trend is considered to be decreasing in available global assessments.
The principal concerns are habitat loss, forest degradation, agricultural and urban expansion, and changes in the abundance and timing of flowering plants. Climate change may also affect migration, breeding conditions and the availability of nectar and insect prey. Protecting native forest, maintaining flowering habitat and managing protected areas are important conservation measures. Gardens can provide supplementary habitat when they contain suitable native plants and avoid harmful pesticides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Green-backed Firecrown live?
It occurs mainly in Chile and Argentina, from northern and central Chile to Tierra del Fuego, with additional records from the Juan Fernández Islands. It uses forests, woodland edges, shrubland, clearings, plantations and gardens.
Is the Green-backed Firecrown migratory?
It is partly migratory. Some southern birds move northwards or to lower elevations during the colder months, while other populations remain resident or make shorter seasonal movements.
How can you identify a male Green-backed Firecrown?
The most useful feature is the iridescent red-orange or coppery crown, which contrasts with the green back. The crown may appear less colourful when the bird is viewed from the wrong angle or in poor light.
What does the Green-backed Firecrown eat?
It feeds mainly on nectar from flowering plants and supplements this diet with small insects and spiders. It may hover while feeding or perch on vegetation near a flower patch.
Where can I see a Green-backed Firecrown?
Accessible locations include Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park and Fray Jorge National Park in Chile. Gardens and urban parks within the species’ range can also be productive, particularly during flowering periods.
Is the Green-backed Firecrown endangered?
No. The species is currently classified as Least Concern, although habitat degradation, changing food resources and other environmental pressures may cause local problems and contribute to a declining overall trend.
References
- BirdLife International
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Corporación Nacional Forestal, Chile
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