Lampornis hemileucus
The White-bellied Mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus) is a dazzling medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 10.5 to 11.5 cm (4.1 to 4.5 inches) in length and weighing between 5 and 7 grams. Males sport brilliant iridescent green upperparts, a contrasting clean white belly, and a distinctive dark tail tipped with white outer rectrices, earning it its common name. Their most striking feature is a glittering iridescent violet-blue or emerald-green gorget, often bordered by a white line,...
Found primarily in humid montane evergreen forests, cloud forest edges, and second growth with flowering plants, typically at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,500 meters (3,000 to 8,200 feet).
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
White-bellied Mountaingems are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging and defending feeding territories. Males are often fiercely territorial, perching conspicuously to guard prime patches of flowering plants, issuing chattering calls to ward off intruders. Their foraging strateg...
The White-bellied Mountaingem is a resident species found exclusively in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. Its distribution is quite localized, primarily inhabiting the Tilarán, Central, and Talamanca mountain ranges in Costa Rica, extending into the Chiriquí highlands of western Pa...
Least Concern
- The White-bellied Mountaingem's heart beats an astounding 1,200 times per minute during strenuous activity. - Its tongue can extend twice the length of its bill, allowing it to reach deep into flowers for nectar. - Despite its small size, this hummingbird is capable of flying backwards, sideway...