In Colombia there are around 163 species of Hummingbirds.
News Colombia.
A small endemic hummingbird lives in one of the most imposing and fragile ecosystems in the country: the moor that surrounds the Nevado del Ruiz Volcanoin the Central mountain range.
Also read:
For many bird watchers and nature travelers, this species not only represents a biological treasure, but also a deep connection with the Colombian mountains.
Oxypogon stuebelii is an endemic species, that is, it only lives in Colombia. Its distribution is mainly concentrated in the moors of Tolima and Caldas, especially on the slopes surrounding Nevado del Ruiz. This makes it one of the most valuable birds for nature tourism and conservation.
Juan Camilo Quintero, Colombian Nature Photographer, viralized the close-up images of this beautiful species.
Its bristly plumage, its characteristic white beard and its presence in the midst of extreme cold make it unmistakable for those who manage to observe it. It lives among frailejones, grasslands and icy winds, in a territory where few species can survive.
The silent guardian of Nevado del Ruiz
Watching this hummingbird feed among paramo flowers, a few meters from the volcano, is an image that remains forever recorded. Its presence is a reminder of the balance that sustains these ecosystems and the importance of conserving them.
Despite its small size, the Chivito del Nevado del Ruiz is a symbol of resistance. It lives right next to one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the country, surviving extreme weather conditions, sudden changes in temperature and the constant seismic movements of the massif.
A key destination for bird watching in Colombia
Nevado del Ruiz is one of the most visited points by national and international bird watchers. Those who reach these heights do so with the hope of meeting this endemic hummingbird, considered one of the most special in the country.
