Huembo Reserve

Huembo exists because of the marvellous spatuletail, a hummingbird found only in a small area of the Utcubamba drainage in Amazonas. The male has four tail feathers, two of them enormously elongated and ending in iridescent violet paddles that he crosses and swings in front of the female during a display so energetic he can only sustain it in short bursts. It is one of the most sought-after birds in the world and it is threatened, with habitat cleared for farming across most of its range. ECOAN set up the reserve with feeders, a viewing shelter and short trails, and it is the most reliable place on earth to see the species: males come to the feeders through the morning, though the display itself is seen far less often. Other hummingbirds come in numbers too, and the reserve does habitat restoration on the surrounding slopes.

What you actually see

• The spatuletail - males with two racket-tipped tail feathers, found only in this small area.
• The feeders - the most reliable spot anywhere for the species, busiest in the morning.
• The display - the crossed-paddle courtship, seen far less often than the bird itself.
• The restoration - replanting on the cleared slopes around the reserve.

When to go

May to September for drier weather. Mornings are much better than afternoons at the feeders. Two to four hours, often combined with Abra Patricia.

Honest expectations

Males come to the feeders but the courtship display is uncommon and short - do not count on it. A small site with basic facilities. The surrounding hillsides are largely cleared farmland, which is the reason the species is in trouble.

Nearby

Pomacochas lake is beside the road; Abra Patricia is east.