About the Shining Sunbeam
The Shining Sunbeam is a large, conspicuous hummingbird found at higher altitudes along both slopes of the Andes. It often perches in open areas and is fairly easy to spot. At first glance it appears to be rather plain, feathered in shades of brown and cinnamon. Its specific name, cupripennis, is a combination of the Latin words for “copper” and “winged,” and the species is indeed sometimes called the Copper-winged Hummingbird.
But seen from the back in just the right light, the Shining Sunbeam dazzles, with a lower back and rump aglow in iridescent shades of purple, green, and gold. The sexes look alike, although the female's iridescent patch may be smaller.
The Shining Sunbeam can be easily distinguished from another large brown hummingbird of the Andes, the Rainbow Starfrontlet, due to a rather unique feature.
Displays from Front to Back
Unlike most hummingbird species, the Shining Sunbeam's iridescent display colors are found on its back (dorsal) side, rather than on its head, throat, or chest. This feature is shared among hummingbirds of the Aglaeactis genus, which includes three other species: the White-tufted Sunbeam and the Vulnerable Purple-backed Sunbeam, both endemic to Peru, and the Black-hooded Sunbeam, found only in Bolivia.
The Shining Sunbeam is the most widespread species in this small genus.
Songs and Sounds
The Shining Sunbeam's song and calls consist of similar-sounding, high-pitched twittering notes.
Listen here:
Breeding and Feeding
The Shining Sunbeam nests year-round, with the season depending upon the area it inhabits. As is usual with hummingbirds, the male is not involved in the reproductive cycle after mating. The female builds her nest, a compact cup of moss and cobweb lined with softer materials, on a branch high above the ground, where she lays a clutch of two tiny white eggs that she incubates for approximately two weeks. The young fledge about a month after hatching.
Scrappy Sunbeam
Like all hummingbirds, the Shining Sunbeam is nectivorous, feeding at flowering trees, vines and bromeliads. It also captures small insects in flight, a feeding style known as “hawking.” This species sometimes clings to flowers as it feeds – a way to conserve energy in the thin mountain air.

The male sunbeam will aggressively defend a feeding territory against members of its own species, other hummingbirds such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, and Violet-tailed Sylph, and even other nectar-drinking birds such as flowerpiercers.
Region and Range

High-elevation Hummer
The Shining Sunbeam occurs high in the Andean Mountains at elevations from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. Its range stretches from Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru. Like many other mountain-dwelling hummingbirds such as the Critically Endangered Gorgeted Puffleg and the Booted Racket-tail, the Shining Sunbeam makes elevational movements in pursuit of flowering plants and their stores of nectar.
Two subspecies of Shining Sunbeam are recognized, with the more southerly-occurring being a darker brown.
Conservation

Help support ABC's conservation mission!
Fortunately, this beautiful hummingbird species remains common. ABC and its partners protect habitat at over 10 reserves within the Shining Sunbeam's range, including the Reinita Cielo Azul (Cerulean Warbler) Reserve in Colombia, the Yanacocha and Tapichalaca Reserves in Ecuador, and the Abra Patricia Reserve and Vilcanota Reserve Network of Peru.
Get Involved
Many of the rarest bird species in the Western Hemisphere remain relatively unknown. You can learn more about these birds and the threats they face by signing up for ABC's Bird of the Week email series, which frequently highlights these fascinating birds.
American Bird Conservancy and our partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean have created and expanded more than 100 bird reserves, which protect upward of 1.1 million acres of vital habitat. Together, we've planted more than 6.8 million trees, helping to restore degraded and damaged habitat. You can help us continue to protect endangered birds by making a gift today.