Bronzy Inca vs Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Coeligena coeligena compared with Coeligena lutetiae

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bronzy Inca	Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family same	Trochilidae	Trochilidae
Genus same	Coeligena	Coeligena
Species	Coeligena coeligena	Coeligena lutetiae

Evolutionary Relationship

Bronzy Inca and Buff-winged Starfrontlet share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Coeligena.

Conservation Status

Bronzy Inca

LC — Least Concern

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bronzy Inca	Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bronzy Inca

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway.

Bronzy Inca

A large, robust hummingbird of Andean cloud forests and forest edges from Venezuela to Bolivia, bronzy incas display glittering bronze-green plumage with an iridescent green throat and a distinctive white breast spot. They inhabit elevations between 900–2,800 meters and are aggressive territory defenders at flower patches. Bronzy incas are trap-liners, following regular routes along flowering plant corridors rather than defending single territories. Listed as Least Concern with stable populations.

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

A large, distinctive hummingbird with iridescent green upper parts and distinctive buff-colored wing patches visible in flight, buff-winged starfrontlets inhabit humid montane forests of Ecuador and southern Colombia at elevations between 1,500–3,600 meters. Males bear a glittering blue-green gorget and iridescent crown. They are primarily nectar feeders at large flowering trees and epiphytic bromeliads. Listed as Least Concern but sensitive to deforestation of Andean cloud forest.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇴 Norway