About Urosticte benjamini (Bourcier, 1851)
Taxonomy and Basic Measurements
The purple-bibbed whitetip, with the scientific name Urosticte benjamini (Bourcier, 1851), measures 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) long and weighs 3.8 to 4.2 g (0.13 to 0.15 oz).
Shared Morphological Traits
Both sexes share a medium-length straight black bill, a prominent white stripe behind the eye, and glittering green upperparts.
Male Plumage and Underparts
Males have a violet lower throat, white plumage below the throat, and a grayish belly marked with green spots.
Male Tail Features
Their tail is dusky bronze; the central tail feathers have wide white tips that form an oval-shaped spot.
Female Plumage and Underparts
Females have white underparts that are heavily spotted with green.
Female Tail Features
Their tail is dusky bronze, with purple coloration near the tip and white tips on the outer feathers.
Juvenile Characteristics
Juveniles resemble adult females, but also have brown edges on their head feathers.
Geographic Distribution
The purple-bibbed whitetip is distributed on the Pacific slope of the Andes, ranging from Colombia's Chocó Department south into Ecuador as far as Pichincha Province.
General Habitat and Elevation Range
It inhabits the interior and edges of montane forest, and is generally found at elevations between 700 and 1,600 m (2,300 and 5,200 ft).
Ecuadorian Elevation Preference
Within Ecuador, the species is most numerous between 1,200 and 1,400 m (3,900 and 4,600 ft).
