Chlorestes eliciae
The Blue-throated Sapphire (*Chlorestes eliciae*) is a dazzling, medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring around 8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 in) in length and weighing 3-4 grams (0.11-0.14 oz). Males are particularly striking, boasting a brilliant, iridescent violet-blue throat patch that extends onto the chest, contrasting sharply with their shimmering golden-green upperparts and belly. A distinct white post-ocular streak often accents their dark eye, and their bill is straight and black. Females a...
Primarily found in humid evergreen forests, forest edges, and clearings, as well as plantations, gardens, and secondary growth from lowlands up to approximately 1,200-1,500 meters (3,900-4,900 ft) elevation.
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, particularly those with red or orange tubular flowers, supplemented by small arthropods (insects and spiders) caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
Blue-throated Sapphires are diurnal and highly active, often observed foraging throughout the day from dawn to dusk. Like many hummingbirds, they are fiercely territorial, especially around prime nectar sources, aggressively chasing away intruders with rapid aerial pursuits and chattering calls. ...
The Blue-throated Sapphire is primarily distributed across Central America, from southern Mexico southeastward through Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and into western Panama. Its breeding range largely overlaps with its year-round presence, as it is considered re...
Least Concern
- The Blue-throated Sapphire's brilliant blue throat isn't from pigment, but from structural coloration—microscopic air bubbles and melanin layers in their feathers diffract light to create the dazzling iridescence. - Despite its small size, this hummingbird is highly aggressive, often dominating...