Chrysolampis mosquitus
The Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Chrysolampis mosquitus, is a dazzlingly small and common hummingbird endemic to tropical northern South America and parts of the Caribbean. Males are instantly recognizable by their spectacular iridescent ruby-red throat and a brilliant golden-orange crown, contrasting with bronze-green upperparts and a dark, rufous-edged tail. Females are less flamboyant, showcasing bronze-green upperparts, grayish-white underparts, and a dark tail marked with rufous outer feather...
Found in open country, scrub, savannas, gardens, and forest edges, primarily at low to moderate elevations up to 1,700 meters.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a diverse array of flowering plants, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds are diurnal, solitary birds, spending their nights roosting discreetly among dense foliage. They employ a 'traplining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of flowering plants for nectar, often hovering deftly while feeding. Males are intensely territorial, aggres...
The Ruby-topaz Hummingbird has an extensive range across northern South America and certain Caribbean islands. Its breeding range spans from eastern Colombia, through Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), and into northern and eastern Brazil. It is also a resident breeder on T...
Least Concern
- The male Ruby-topaz Hummingbird's gorget can appear brilliant ruby-red or black depending on the angle of light, a stunning example of structural coloration. - It is the only species in its genus, Chrysolampis, making it taxonomically unique among hummingbirds. - Despite its small size, males a...