On Friday, 30 December 2005 JAL observed a Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) feeding on the fuchsia and mint plants around the guest house at Reserva Las Gralarias, Parroquia Mindo, Canton San Miguel de los Bancos, Provincia Pichincha, Ecuador

The location was verified by a Garmin Legend Etrex GPS at S 00°00.644’, W078°43.859, elevation 2068m, 21.47 miles/34.5km northwest from Quito.

The bird was not immediately identified because it had a dirty white collar and looked superficially like an immature Gorgeted Sunangel (Heliangelus strophianus), a common species in the area. However, upon more detailed observation and comparison with all available reference material, the bird was identified as a male Black-breasted Puffleg, probably a first-year male due to a slight yellowish malar. Numerous photos and some video were taken to document the record, and identification was finally confirmed by TS.

The species is known recently only from the northwestern flanks of Pichincha Volcano , in the area of Yanacocha Reserve and Cerro Pugsi, some 20 miles/32 km from Reserva Las Gralarias, and is considered critically endangered by the IUCN and bird conservation organizations. There are no previous documented records of the species from the area of Reserva Las Gralarias.

The individual stayed in the gardens at Reserva Las Gralarias for 7 days. It was last seen and videotaped on 5 January 2006 late in the afternoon. The bird fed extensively on blooming fuchsia, often perching on the bushes and then flying to nearby trees and a forested area. The pollen of the fuchsia caused the dirty white collar on the bird (see photo). Although there were hummingbird feeders in the same gardens, the bird was never seen feeding from the feeders. The puffleg was aggressive towards other hummingbirds in the gardens, but similar to other hummingbirds in the gardens, the puffleg was quite tame around humans.

Recent reports had noted that Yanacocha Reserve (elevation appr. 3500m) was extremely dry, and the week prior to the puffleg observation at Reserva Las Gralarias, extensive snow was seen on Pichincha Volcano above Yanacocha Reserve. Perhaps the combination of weather factors, coupled with recent turbulent winds in the zone, had caused the bird to move to a comparatively low elevation. On the other hand, there could be a lack of observations in this area and perhaps the seasonal movement is not unusual but simply overlooked. Also possible is a natural dispersal of young birds in search of new territories or feeding areas.

It is known that the puffleg stays at Yanacocha from around April to July and then disappears, presumably moving to lower elevations. At the time the puffleg was observed at Reserva Las Gralarias a fuchsia species was in bloom, so it is possible that seasonal movements are undertaken to find blooming plants. This would not be unusual given that every time a puffleg has been observed an explosive blooming event was occurring. Blooming events were reported at Yanacocha, Cerro Pugsi, and also when a young male puffleg was observed during three days at Cerro La Bola (Guarumos) on 25 June 2003, elevation 2700 m (TS) feeding on an Ericacea. Based on this observation we can say that the Black-breasted Puffleg is possibly an opportunistic species.

The week that the puffleg was observed at Reserva Las Gralarias was a week of foggy, cold and rainy weather. On 5 January, the last day the bird was seen, the weather became warm and sunny and numerous bees were noted feeding on the fuchsia.

This record adds significant documentation to the little information known about this rare species and its seasonal movements. This observation also highlights the need to promote conservation efforts in the wider Yanacocha-Mindo area not only for the puffleg but also for other rare species found in this increasingly endangered zone.

Acknowledgements
Thank you to Francisco Enriquez and Benjamin Schwartz for their assistance in identifying and documenting the sighting.

Email addresses:
Jane Lyons , c/o Reserva Las Gralarias, jlyons@pi.pro.ec
Tatiana Santander, c/o Aves&Conservacion Proyectos [aves_proyectos@yahoo.com]

Photos copyrighted 2006 by Jane A. Lyons.