Eastern slope of western Andes at Succa, La Libertad (northern Peru).
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 2,499 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through replacement of alder with eucalyptus plantations, cutting for firewood and small scale burning to improve pasture for grazing livestock, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A thin, high 'tsuit tsEEt tsuit tsEEt tsuew'.
Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) [XC175874]
by Roger Ahlman from El Molino, Cajamarca, Peru (song)
Purple-backed Sunbeam (Aglaeactis aliciae) [XC609896]
by Frank Lambert from El Mollino, Peru (call)
Subspecies
May belong to the superspecies of Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) and White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii). Taxonomic status still unresolved: some authors consider it a subspecies of Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), since immature birds have a buff-spotted chin and throat turning pure white after the first moult. Otherwise, it resembles subspecies caumatonotus of Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) has largely rufous-brown underparts and face. Range of White-tufted Sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) does not overlap and that species has tawny tail, some rufous on underparts and white feather tuft on central breast.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet