HUMMINGBIRDS OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Amethyst-Throated Hummingbird

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lampornis Amethystinus

Amethyst-throated hummingbird

Males have a dark green crown and back, gray auriculars bordered above by a white postocular stripe. They have a bronze rump, blackish uppertail coverts, and a very broad and slightly forked tail, with black retrices and outer retrices are tipped with gray. Their throat is a bright purple, a dusky gray breast and belly, and pale buff undertail coverts. Some have a tan or bronzy moustachial stripe. Females are similar to males but their throat is cinnamon. Juveniles are similar to adult females, but males often have a few pink feathers on their throat.

BILL: dark, straight, sometimes the mandible is brownish.

SIZE: medium-sized, measuring about 4.5 - 5 inches in length.

WEIGHT: males weigh about 5 - 7.8 grams, females about 5 - 5.8 grams.

COLOR: dark green, green, white, black, brown, bronze, gray, dusky gray, purple, pink, buff, and cinnamon.

Montane evergreen and pine-oak forests, and forest edge.

Hovering, while feeding from flowers. Aggressively chase away other males as well as large insects - such as bumblebees and hawk moths - that want to feed in their territory. They use aerial flights and intimidating displays to defend their territories.

NEST: cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in a protected location in a shrub, bush or tree.

EGGS: 2 white eggs.