Esmeraldas woodstars are found only on the Pacific coast of west Ecuador in semi-deciduous to evergreen forests.

[5] Researchers recently found Esmeraldas woodstars at twelve new locations and collected the first female specimens of the species.

[4] Female Esmeraldas woodstars have yellowish-brown underparts and a dark greyish-black back, head, and tail.

[4] Male juvenile Esmeraldas woodstars were previously misidentified by researchers as adult females because of their similar appearance and extremely small gonads.

[4] Male juveniles have white underparts, a yellowish-brown throat with a few purple feathers, and a distinctive rounded, green tail with a rufous-cinnamon base and pale cinnamon to whitish tips.

[8] The highest abundance of Esmeraldas woodstars were recorded during the peak season of this flower species (January to March).

[4] Esmeraldas woodstars also frequently visit Cornutia pyramidata which are small trees that grow purple flowers.

[4] Flowers of the Razisea genus are medium-sized and form dense clumps, making them ideal for small hummingbirds to efficiently extract their nectar.

[6] Deforestation in the lowland humid forests of western Ecuador is the biggest threat to Esmeraldas woodstars.

[6] Esmeraldas woodstars rely on protected areas such as the Machalilla National Park to survive and reproduce.

While researchers were collecting data on this species, they observed logging, hunting, farming, and human settlements within the protected area.

[4] Machalilla National Park is one of the only areas protecting this species from habitat loss, but it needs better management to be successful.

[4] In 2014, a 38-acre nature reserve was created in Ayampe by Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, Rainforest Trust, the American Bird Conservancy, and the local Las Tunas community.

[5] Las Tunas is a local community on the coast of Ecuador and a crucial breeding habitat for Esmeraldas woodstars.

[9] Esmeraldas woodstars feed on this flower and the Las Tunas people harvest the tree's fruit.

[9] Because of the abundance of ripe pechiche fruit every spring, they host an annual festival with candy made from the juice.

[9] The community also organizes beach clean-ups where children collect trash along the coast, making this area one of the cleanest in the country.

[9] Because of the huge impact the Esmeraldas woodstar has had on Las Tunas, the locals now refer to the species as "their" bird, and Ecuador has declared the area protected for tourism.