In the thin, crystal air of the high Andes, this emerald-throated spark hovers among windswept páramo flowers with unwavering focus. It feeds almost entirely on nectar, tracing a precise route between hardy blossoms that bloom where few creatures can survive. What makes it extraordinary is its partnership with the mountains — by pollinating rare high-altitude plants, it helps sustain an ecosystem balanced on the edge of cold and sky. Tiny in size yet immense in purpose, a living jewel of the alpine frontier.
Green-bearded Helmetcrest 👇
