ecuadorian hillstar, ecuador
Inhabiting the high elevation grasslands that flank Ecuador's many volcanoes; an ecosystem known as the páramo, they eke out a living at elevations upwards of 5,000m. To survive the cold temperatures of this landscape, these birds recede into small rocky caves and crevices at night, where they enter "torpor" - a state of decreased physiological activity. Their metabolic rate and heart rate drop significantly, allowing them to conserve enough energy to make it until morning. As the sun rises and the air warms, their bodies shiver until their internal temperature returns to its normal 40°c. Seen here is a male, perched atop its staple food source: the Chuquiraga flower. The nectar of this plant is his fuel. It's truly amazing to see these birds, whose impressive adaptions allow them to monopolize a food source where few other creatures can survive!
