Chlorostilbon assimilis
The Garden Emerald (Chlorostilbon assimilis) is a petite and dazzling hummingbird, belonging to the genus *Chlorostilbon*, known for its vibrant green species. Males boast an entirely iridescent emerald-green plumage, including a slightly forked tail, measuring approximately 7.5 to 8.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 2.5 to 3.5 grams. A key identification feature for males is their uniformly green appearance with a short, straight black bill. Females, while also small, display a more subdued...
This adaptable hummingbird thrives in semi-open habitats, including forest edges, clearings, secondary growth, coffee plantations, and suburban gardens. It is typically found from sea level up to about 1,500 meters in elevation, occasionally reaching 2,000 meters.
Primarily a nectarivore, the Garden Emerald feeds on nectar from a wide variety of small, tubular flowers, often hovering adeptly while feeding. It also supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage or catches in mid-air.
Garden Emeralds are highly active and diurnal, spending their days meticulously foraging and vigorously defending their territories. Males are particularly territorial, performing aggressive aerial chases to drive off intruders, whether other hummingbirds or larger insects, from favored flowering...
The Garden Emerald is a resident species, primarily distributed across Central America, from the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica south through Panama. Its range extends along both coastlines and into the central highlands, though it generally avoids the highest elevations. In Costa Ric...
Least Concern
- The Garden Emerald can beat its wings up to 80 times per second, creating the characteristic humming sound. - Despite its tiny size, this hummingbird is fiercely territorial, often seen chasing away birds many times its size from prime feeding spots. - Its shimmering green plumage is not due to...