White Breasted Amazalia Hummingbird - Amazalia amazalia leucophae

These exquisite little birds are found in Peru, Ecuador mainly across the Andes.

They are typically found in open dry desert areas with scattered scrub. They can also be found in urban areas around cultivated land and yards.

Subspecies: There are four sub-species and they differ in the amount of white on the chin and throat..

Plumage Colouration: The photo of the bird is easier to look at than for me to describe. This photo, I believe, is of a cock bird. The colours are very intense.

Sexing: The females are very similar, but I always look for one with a duller belly and ventral area. This however, is not always correct!

Feeding: A nectar diet is the mainstay for these birds but also a little fruit such as pear will be sampled, but they will only take a miniscule amount. Livefood in the form of fruit flies and very small spiders are essential.
The best nectar diet we have found is this:
3 scoops of Wysoy baby powder,
7 dessert spoons of white sugar, 1/8 of a teaspoon of bees pollen,
1/4 teaspoon of de-activated yeast,
Mix these together dry then add-
1/8 of a teaspoon of Cytacon (vitamin B12),
1 teaspoon full of Minamino compound (multi vitamin),
Mix with boiling water until dissolved, then make up to 1 litre with cold water.
NOTE: Too much Cytacon can poison the birds.

Housing: They can be kept quite happily in a large indoor cage the size of a double budgerigar breeder. But I prefer to try and keep these birds in an aviary on their own, this will give them their best chance of breeding. They can have access to an outdoor aviary during the summer months as long as the temperature does not drop below 60ºF. The temperature must not be allowed to drop below 60ºF in the winter months.
They mix quite happily with other birds when not breeding, however when they are breeding they will preferably be isolated or they may become very protective of their nest and have been known to harrass much larger birds to death.
They must have access to drinking water and a bath at all times as they love to bathe.

Breeding: An aviary to themselves will attain the best breeding results. They will usually build their nest in the fork of a branch where they will build a small cup shaped nest made of Moss, spiders webs and a little coconut fibre. The usual clutch consists of 2 eggs and these hatch after approximately 18 days. The chicks leave the nest after a further 21 days approximately. When they have eggs in the nest it is best to start providing sponge fingers soaked in nectar right the way through until they have fledged. An abundance of fruit flies are essential if the chicks are to survive through to adulthood. This cannot be stressed enough. If you hope to breed Hummingbirds, you must literally have the fruit flies in swarm proportions!!!

Hints/tips: When purchasing any Hummingbirds do not worry overly about the feather condition, as long as they can fly to get at the nectar, other feathers will grow back. Do however check that there is no scarring on the skin of the bird as permanent scarring can results in feather follicles being irrepairably damaged. The birds must have bright, clear and round eyes and be seen to be quite active, avoid birds that are fluffed up and lethargic and just sit on the perch, these birds probably won't survive.
When they are first aquired they must be kept on their own in quarantine and not put straight into an aviary with others for approximately 2 weeks. This will allow any diseases that they may be harbouring to become apparent without subjecting other birds to the infection.
Another tip I would recommend is to put three or four drinkers into the aviary. This gives the bird a better chance of finding its food. One of these should be next to the birds favourite perch, because although all Hummingbirds hover to take nectar, they will always take advantage of an easy meal.
If for any reason you have to catch a Hummingbird, I would suggest you spray them with warm water, just enough to slow down their flying and then you can net them. However, be very careful whilst handling them, because they can die of a heart attack in your hand. So do not subject them to too much stress.

Unique Characteristics: Hummingbirds are really only for the serious breeder or exhibitor. They are not difficult to keep, but they are time consuming and you must be very methodic in their care. Hummingbirds can die after less than an hour without food and therefore a strict feeding schedule must be followed. These are not birds for the beginner and in the wrong hands can die within hours. They need time and patience and also plenty of tender loving care. Please, please, please leave them to aviculturists who have substantial experience with exotic softbills and nectar feeders.

If you would like to know any other information about these or any of my other birds please feel free to get in touch by email c/o derek.robinson4@ntlworld.com