Lampornis calolaemus
The Purple-throated Mountaingem (*Lampornis calolaemus*) is a medium-sized hummingbird, typically measuring 10-11.5 cm in length and weighing 5-7 grams, renowned for its dazzling iridescence. Males are easily identified by their brilliant, iridescent violet-purple gorget (throat patch), often accentuated by a thin white malar stripe, contrasting with their metallic green upperparts and grayish-white underparts. Females, while lacking the vibrant throat, are still distinctive with buffy-orange...
Primarily inhabiting humid montane evergreen and cloud forests, the Purple-throated Mountaingem also thrives in forest edges, clearings, and mature coffee plantations. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 800 to 2500 meters above sea level.
The diet of the Purple-throated Mountaingem consists primarily of flower nectar, with a preference for red or tubular blossoms, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Purple-throated Mountaingems are highly diurnal and energetic birds, constantly active during daylight hours. They engage in trap-line feeding, following a regular circuit of flower patches to maximize nectar intake, but will also defend rich territories. Males are fiercely territorial, aggressiv...
The Purple-throated Mountaingem is a resident species endemic to the highland regions of southern Central America, spanning from south-central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and into western Panama. In Nicaragua, its distribution is concentrated in the cooler montane areas. Its stronghold is the ce...
Least Concern
- The iridescent purple gorget of the male is not pigment but a structural color, appearing dull from some angles but flashing brilliantly in direct light. - Like most hummingbirds, it has an incredibly high metabolism, requiring it to feed almost constantly throughout the day. - To survive cold ...