Eriocnemis isabellae, also called “Gorgeted Puffleg” is the most recently discovered hummingbird.  E. bellae lives in the Serania del Pinche mountains of southwest Columbia, in South America.

It was discovered in 2005 by ornathologists Alexander Cortes-Diago and Luis Alfonso Ortega. 

E. bellae is the only known Puffleg hummingbird with a large, iridescent throat patch, also called a gorget.  Only males display the iridescent gorget.  Both male and female Puffleg hummingbirds have white tufts of feathers on their legs, which is why they are called Pufflegs.

There are concerns about the safety and long-term survival of this hummingbird because the mountains where it was discovered are unprotected by conservation laws.

The Hummingbird Conservancy (Columbia) has started a conservation initiative with local communities and government organizations to help to insure its survival.