Welcome to this series of single-image posts.
You are looking at Ensifera ensifera, the sword-billed hummingbird.
It is the only bird on earth with a bill that is longer than its body-proper.
Some individuals’ beaks are longer than their entire bodies, tail-feathers.included.
Bird-wise, Colombia is generally recognised as the world’s most species-rich nation; the “recognised” number exceeds 1,900 – circa 20% of the global total of bird species!
In March of this year my beloved and I were two of just four “punters” on a wildlife-centric trip to Colombia.
Its birdlife beggars belief.
Happily, Colombia is also special in many other ways.
A later, multi-image post will reveal more about the sword-billed hummingbird. (& include a couple of technically-better, rain-free photos)
Suffice for now that this tropical Andean species’ signature feature provides both “problem” and opportunity!
I took this post’s photo in Los Nevados National Nature Park; the next post will give you a partial view of the park’s “roof” – Colombia’s highest active volcano, which stands taller than Mont Blanc…and has proved much more lethal to Homo sapiens.
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