Chionomesa lactea
The Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Chionomesa lactea) is a vibrant, medium-sized hummingbird renowned for the dazzling iridescence of its plumage. Males sport a brilliant, deep sapphire-blue to blue-green throat and upper chest, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly and vent, while their upperparts are a rich emerald green, sometimes with a coppery sheen on the rump. Measuring approximately 8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 inches) in length and weighing a mere 3-5 grams, this species exhibits subtle sexual ...
Primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical lowland and montane forests, forest edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth, often found at elevations between 200 and 1500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on nectar from a diverse range of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders. Nectar is obtained while hovering, and insects are caught by hawking in mid-air or gleaning from vegetation.
Sapphire-spangled Emeralds are active diurnal birds, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects, and typically roosting solitarily at night. Their foraging strategy often involves "trap-lining," where individuals visit a regular circuit of flowering plants, or aggressively defending rich...
The Sapphire-spangled Emerald has a wide distribution across northern and central South America, primarily within the Amazon Basin and along the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains. Its extensive breeding range encompasses parts of southern Venezuela, eastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern ...
Least Concern
- The Sapphire-spangled Emerald's iridescent throat feathers are not pigmented blue but reflect light like tiny prisms, creating their shimmering effect. - Like all hummingbirds, it possesses an incredibly high metabolism, requiring it to feed almost constantly throughout the day. - Its wings bea...