Only recently discovered and named, a beautiful male Blue-throated Hillstar perches on its favorite flower, known as the “flower of true love” in Ecuador (photo by Roger Ahlman).

In August, the American Bird Conservancy’s partner Fundacion Jocotoco purchased the first portion of the newly established Cerro de Arcos Reserve in Ecuador – 110 acres – with support from ABC and Rainforest Trust. This land protects alpine meadows that are critical to the survival of the recently discovered hummingbird – the Blue-throated Hillstar. This interesting new hummingbird was first discovered in 2017, and it was described and named as a new hummingbird species in 2018. To date, Blue-throated Hillstars have only been found on the slopes of one mountain in southwest Ecuador.

Above 12,000 feet in altitude, the hillstar’s windswept habitat is a unique ecosystem of boggy grass and shrublands, studded with evergreen plants, mosses, and cacti. Like other high-elevation hummingbirds, the Blue-throated Hillstar is adapted to thrive in a cold, oxygen-reduced environment. Thin mountain air makes hovering less efficient, so the hillstars tend to feed while clinging to or perching next to flowers. In general, these hummingbirds also spend a lot of time perched, saving energy for when they need to fly. These hummers rely on Ecuador’s “flower of true love” as their main food source, and the Blue-throated Hillstars are this plant’s main pollinators. This interdependence means that the two species’ futures are connected.

Currently known from just one location, the Blue-throated Hillstar likely warrants Critically Endangered status, but has yet to be formally evaluated for conservation status. “With a small population likely between 250 and 750 individuals, and its habitat threatened by burning for pastureland and conversion to exotic pine forests, the time to protect this species is now,” said Martin Schaefer, Jocotoco’s Executive Director.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has been working to promote the Blue-throated Hillstar’s conservation since its discovery. “We work with Fundacion Jocotoco and other partners across the Americas to protect habitat for Critically Endangered and Endangered species limited by habitat and lacking adequate representation in nature reserves,” said Daniel Lebbin, ABC Vice President of Threatened Species. “For under-protected birds like the Blue-throated Hillstar, this land protection is a crucial first step.”

The current project is a joint effort by Fundacion Jocotoco, the Rainforest Trust, and ABC, and aims to protect at least 616 acres by the middle of 2021, with an ultimate goal of 1,235 total acres. “This fast-acting partnership shows that we can make a difference through creation of protected areas and help ensure that species are here for generations to come,” said James Lewis, Director of Conservation Programs at the Rainforest Trust.

To refer to the original ABC news release, and view a video of the interesting alpine hummingbird, see https://abcbirds.org/article/milestone-recently-named-rare-hummingbird-gets-reserve/