Hoary Puffleg
VU

Hoary Puffleg

Haplophaedia lugens

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoary_puffleg

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Hoary Puffleg faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its restricted Andean range. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its cloud forest habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and humidity zones upslope beyond the species' elevational limits. The conversion of native forests to cattle pastures and crop cultivation has eliminated significant portions of the flowering plants this specialized hummingbird depends upon for nectar.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Hoary Puffleg inhabits humid montane cloud forests and forest edges between 1,800-3,200 meters elevation in the Andes. It favors areas with dense understory vegetation and abundant flowering plants, particularly along forest borders and in secondary growth adjacent to primary forest.

Other threatened species in Trochilidae

Andean HillstarCR

Andean Hillstar

Oreotrochilus estella

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Pink-throated BrilliantVU

Pink-throated Brilliant

Heliodoxa gularis

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Royal SunangelEN

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Hoary Puffleg classified as Vulnerable?
Hoary Puffleg is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Hoary Puffleg faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its restricted Andean range. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its cloud forest habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and humidity zones upslope beyond the species' elevational limits. The conversion of native forests to cattle pastures and crop cultivation has eliminated significant portions of the flowering plants this specialized hummingbird depends upon for nectar.
Where does Hoary Puffleg live?
Hoary Puffleg occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hoary Puffleg?
The main threats to Hoary Puffleg are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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