Species profile
About this species
The Golden-bellied Starfrontlet is a striking hummingbird found in the Andes of Colombia & Venezuela, characterised by its brilliant golden-yellow underparts & iridescent green plumage. The male displays a vivid violet-blue forehead patch that gleams in direct light, making it one of the more visually spectacular members of the starfrontlet genus. It inhabits cloud forest edges & undergrowth at elevations typically between 1500 & 2800 metres.
Andean cloud forests, forest edges & shrubby slopes at elevations between 1500 & 2800 metres in Colombia & Venezuela
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Golden-bellied Starfrontlet with us in Colombia.
These departures are part of our South America programme.
In the field, David Miles helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
The dry season months of December to February & July to August offer clearer skies & more predictable light in the Andean cloud forests. Early morning hours between 7am & 10am are ideal as the birds are most active & feeding regularly at this time.
Position yourself near flowering plants such as Heliconia or Brugmansia where the species regularly feeds, as this allows you to pre-focuss on a known perch or feeding spot. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/1600s to freeze the rapid wingbeats & capture sharp detail in the iridescent plumage. Shoot with the sun behind you to ensure the metallic colours on the forehead & underparts are fully illuminated & rendered accurately.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Golden-bellied Starfrontlet
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.