Long-Tailed Sylph

While on my journey to visit the famous ancient city ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru, I stayed at the fabulous Cusco Lodge.  The train, located close to the lodge, would take me several hours’ travel up the valley and into the mountains to Machu Picchu.  As I waited for the train to arrive, I walked on a lovely trail surrounding the lodge.  There were a number of  hummingbird feeders along the way, and I noticed several species of local and endemic hummers feeding at each one.  Both the male and female Long-Tailed Sylph flitted around the feeders.  The impressive and colorful male seen here settled finally right in front of me, posing proudly with his extra-long blue tail feathers.  So engrossed was I taking pictures of these magnificent birds that I nearly missed the train.

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The Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingi) is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.