Lampornis amethystinus
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem, *Lampornis amethystinus*, is a captivating medium-sized hummingbird renowned for its stunning iridescence and montane habitat. Males display a brilliant, iridescent amethyst gorget that flashes intensely in the sunlight, contrasting with their dark green dorsal plumage and smoky gray underparts. A conspicuous white stripe extends behind the eye, a key identification mark for both sexes, alongside a dark malar stripe. Measuring approximately 11-12.5 cm (4.3-4...
This species primarily inhabits humid evergreen and semi-deciduous montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges, often frequenting coffee plantations and gardens at elevations typically ranging from 900 to 3,000 meters (3,000 to 9,800 feet).
Their diet consists predominantly of nectar extracted from a variety of tubular flowers, supplemented by small arthropods (insects and spiders) caught by gleaning from foliage or hawking in flight.
Amethyst-throated Mountaingems are highly active and diurnal, primarily foraging from dawn to dusk, often entering a state of torpor during cold nights to conserve energy. They employ a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants for nectar, but also glean inse...
The Amethyst-throated Mountaingem is a resident species primarily found in the highlands of Mexico and Central America. Its distribution spans from central Mexico, specifically along the Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental ranges, south through the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, continuing into t...
Least Concern
- The male's iridescent amethyst gorget can appear dull black in poor light, only flashing its true color when light hits it at the perfect angle. - Like many hummingbirds, the Amethyst-throated Mountaingem can enter a state of torpor, drastically lowering its body temperature and metabolic rate ...