An uncommon high-altitude hummingbird present only in the Central Andes of Colombia and northern Ecuador, between 2500-3600m.  The diagnostic black pufflegs of males are hard to see in the field (and even harder to photograph); the best field mark is the intensely glittering green upper and under tail coverts.

Can be seen at the Old Road to Los Nevados, where males guard aggressively their territories.