Habitat
Subtropical and tropical moist montane forest, subtropical and tropical high altitude grassland and shrubland. From 2,800 - 4,800 m, occasionally down to 2,600 m.
Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) [XC238255]
by Niels Krabbe from Pichincha: Yanacocha, Volc\u00e1n Pichincha, Ecuador (flight call)
Sapphire-vented Puffleg (Eriocnemis luciani) [XC261763]
by Charlie Vogt from Esmeraldas: Cayapachupa, Cordillera de Tois\u00e1n, Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, Ecuador (call, call in flight)
Subspecies
Often considered conspecific with Coppery-naped Puffleg (Eriocnemis sapphiropygia), and intermediate specimens exist, but morphological differences support treatment as separate species. Doubtful species "Eriocnemis soederstroemi" is regarded by some authors as a hybrid of present species and Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), or a subspecies or aberrant form of Turquoise-throated Puffleg (Eriocnemis godini). "Eriocnemis isaacsonii", known only from three Bogota trade skins which are not identical, may be a hybrid of undetermined species of Eriocnemis x Heliangelus.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
meridae Schuchmann, Weller & Heynen, 2001 - Andes of western Venezuela (Mérida).
luciani (Bourcier, 1847) - South-western Colombia to western Ecuador.
baptistae Schuchmann, Weller & Heynen, 2001 - Andes of central and southern Ecuador.
catharina Salvin, 1897 - Eastern Andes of northern Peru (Utcubamba Valley). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Coppery-naped Puffleg (Eriocnemis sapphiropygia).
sapphiropygia Taczanowski, 1874 - Eastern Andes of central and southern Peru (Pasco and Junín to Puno). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Coppery-naped Puffleg (Eriocnemis sapphiropygia).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet