Birds from Brazil 2: Hummingbirds at higher altitude

Hummingbirds are only occurring in the New World, smallest bird on earth is a Hummingbird (Bee Hummingbird, 5 cm tall). Their wings can reach an incredible 200 times per second! Many species can be found in mountains and are very active during the day while the nights can be very cold and they have to eat nectar for building up the energy level.
We are climbing up the Serra dos Orgaos, a beautiful National Park just an hour drive from Rio de Janeiro, and find our first Hummingbird feeding at a flower, a White-vented Violet-Ear

Soon we reach 1200 meters, a level where rich vegetation attracts many species of Bird. This is real Cloud Forest and in this scenic area you will hear the monotone call of the Bare-throated Bellbird

Hummingbirds are moving in and out, the beautiful Amethyst Woodstar, 7,5 cm tall and a weight under 3 grams!

An endemic species, only occurring in eastern Brazil, the Brazilian Ruby

There are more than 300 different kind of species of Hummingbird and their feet are so tiny that they are not able to walk on the ground. Here in the Cloud Forest of the Serra dos Orgaos a spectacular Hummingbird can be found, the unusual Plovercrest

More common species such as the Violet-capped Woodnimph with bright green colours

But the weather varies rapidly, and after a short while it rains again, this White-throated Hummingbird sits quietly and waits for a better moment to feed again

On our way back a striking Black Jacobin in flight

And when we are at sea level again, our Hummingbird story ends with the smallest Hummingbird of Eastern Brazil, the 6,5 cm tall Frilled Coquette