Royal Sunangel
EN

Royal Sunangel

Heliangelus regalis

Unknown

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

Overview

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

The Royal Sunangel faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its restricted Andean range in Peru and Bolivia. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented its cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' specialized nectar-feeding requirements make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation that reduces flowering plant diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Royal Sunangel inhabits humid montane cloud forests and forest edges at elevations between 1,500-2,800 meters in the eastern Andes. It prefers areas with dense epiphytic growth and abundant flowering plants, particularly favoring forest borders and clearings where nectar sources are concentrated.

Other threatened species in Trochilidae

Andean HillstarCR

Andean Hillstar

Oreotrochilus estella

Unknown
Hoary PufflegVU

Hoary Puffleg

Haplophaedia lugens

Unknown
Perija MetaltailVU

Perija Metaltail

Metallura iracunda

Unknown
Pink-throated BrilliantVU

Pink-throated Brilliant

Heliodoxa gularis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Royal Sunangel classified as Endangered?
Royal Sunangel is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Royal Sunangel faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its restricted Andean range in Peru and Bolivia. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented its cloud forest habitat, while climate change is causing upslope shifts in suitable temperature and humidity conditions. The species' specialized nectar-feeding requirements make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation that reduces flowering plant diversity.
Where does Royal Sunangel live?
Royal Sunangel 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 Royal Sunangel?
The main threats to Royal Sunangel 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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