He possesses an unusually distinct appearance with an impressive mohawk and an exceptionally vibrant green and blue beard, making him notably large for his kind.
The size of the buffy helmetcrest, Oxypogon stuebelii, ranges from 11.2 to 12.7 cm (4.4 to 5.0 inches). The male showcases an elongated crest in buffy and black hues, positioned on top of a predominantly black head, which is encircled by a collar in buffy-white shades. Its upper body exhibits a bronzy green coloration, complemented by a slender, somewhat iridescent green and blue gorget hanging from its chin. The bird’s underparts transition from a grayish bronze shade to a cinnamon-buff hue on the under tail coverts. It possesses a relatively long tail that forks at the end. The upper sides of the bird are characterized by a coppery to bronzy green color, with the outer feathers displaying a prominent white stripe. On the undersides, the plumage appears rufous with a touch of pale cinnamon.
The females bear a striking resemblance to the males, albeit without the crest and beard. Their underparts showcase hues ranging from rufous to buff or brown, adorned with greenish specks.
Young birds typically exhibit a similar appearance to the adult females, while the males possess a partial crest and beard.
These avian species are exclusively distributed within the borders of Colombia, making them endemic to the country.
These avian species prefer to inhabit the páramo ecosystem, abundant with frailejones (Espeletia hartwegiana), at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,200 meters on Nevado del Ruiz, an active volcano situated in the Colombian Central Andes.
The Buffy helmetshrike feeds on nectar and insect larvae mainly on Espeletia schultzii flowers. It perches on flowers using its tail for support, and also perches on the ground to catch arthropods, or uses perches to hunt insects while on the wing.
Unfortunately, nothing has been documented on the breeding habits of the Buffy helmetcrest.
The IUCN has assessed the buffy helmetcrest as Vulnerable. It has a very small range, and though much of that area is within Los Nevados National Park, its páramo habitat elsewhere is being rapidly degraded.
Its population is estimated at under 1000 mature individuals and is believed to be decreasing.
WATCH VIDEO: