Bee hummingbird

Mellisuga helenae

Photo by Richard Stern (Mango Verde)

Common name:
bee hummingbird (en); beija-flor-abelha (pt); colibri d'Elena (fr); zunzuncito (es); bienelelfe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Cuba, being found throughout the island and well as in the offshore island of La Juventud.

Size:
The bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world, being just 5-6 cm long and weighing 1,6-2,6 g.

Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in dense tropical forests and along forest edges with abundant scrub coverage, also using swamp forests, moist scrublands, second growths and rural gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on nectar, but will also hunt small insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Bee hummingbirds are polygynous, with males forming leks where they perform songs to attract females. They can mate with several females, having no further part in the breeding process afterwards. Breeding takes place in March-June, when most trees and scrubs are flowering maximizing food availability. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest, made of moss, bark and spider web, and lined with down. There she lays 2 white eggs which she incubates for 14-23 days. She raises the chicks alone and they fledge 18-38 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range, but they are now described as uncommon and the population is suspected to be declining at a slow to moderate rate, as a result of forest degradation and destruction. They were common in the past, but in the 19th century they were heavily hunted because stuffed hummingbirds were a symbol of status for women. Presently the main threats are habitat destruction and degradation. Only 15-20% of the native forest of Cuba still remain, and these are threatened by the expansion of cacao, coffee and tobacco production, as well as other types of agriculture and pastures for cattle.

Empress brilliant

Heliodoxa imperatrix

Photo by Rafael Merchante (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
empress brilliant (en); brilhante-imperatriz (pt); brillant impératrice (fr); brillante emperatriz (es); rotstern-brilliantkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found along the western slopes of the Andes in Colombia and northern Ecuador.

Size:
The males are 16 cm long while the females are 13 cm long. They weigh 8-9 g.

Habitat:
The empress brilliant is mostly found in tropical moist forests, especially in cloud forests and along forest edges, but also in second growth and degraded patches of former forests, at altitude of 400-2.000 m.

Diet:
They feed mostly on nectar, but also take some small arthropods.

Breeding:
Empress brilliants breed in February-July. They nest in a simple cup made of fern scales and moss heavily wrapped in spider webs. The nest is paced on a tree branch or sometimes on human structures. The female lays 2 white eggs. The is no information regarding the incubation period, but the chicks fledge 22-25 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common. There is no information regarding population trends or threats.

White-tailed sabrewing

Campylopterus ensipennis

Photo by Fayard Mohammed (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-tailed sabrewing (en); asa-de-sabre-de-cauda-branca (pt); campyloptère á queue blache (fr); colibrí coliblanco (es); weißschwanz-degenflügel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found restricted to the Turimiquire Massif and Paria peninsula of north-eastern Venezuela and the Caribbean island of Tobago.

Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and weigh 10 g.

Habitat:
The white-tailed sabrewing is mostly found in mature, mountain rainforests, especially along the edges of forest clearings, but can also be found in lowland rainforests and in shade coffee and abandoned plantations. They occur at altitudes of 100-1.830 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of bromeliads, but will also hunt small ants, wasps and spiders.

Breeding:
White-tailed sabrewings can breed all year round, but especially in February-May. They are polygynous, with males displaying in a lek to attract females and mating with several females after which they have no further part in the breeding process. The female builds a small cup nest, where she lays 2 white eggs. She incubates the eggs for 16-19 days and raises the chicks until fledging. There is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively small breeding range, but it is described as fairly common. The population is suspected to be declining slowly, as a result of habitat degradation, mostly through clearance for agriculture and pasture, repeated burning and understorey removal for coffee.

Black-eared fairy

Heliothryx auritus

Photo by Lindolfo Souto (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
black-eared fairy (en); beija-flor-de-bochecha-azul (pt); colibri oreillard (fr); colibrí hada oriental (es); schwarzohr-schmuckkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found from Colombia, Venezuela and eastern Ecuador down to Bolivia and north-western Brazil, and also in south-eastern Brazil from Bahía to São Paulo.

Size:
These birds are 10-13 cm long and weigh around 6 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in tropical rainforests, and to a lesser extent also in second growths and degraded former forests, from sea level up to an altitude of 1.100 m.

Diet:
Black-eared fairies feed on nectar and insects.

Breeding:
These birds can breed all year round. The nest is a cup made of plant down, attached to the tip of a branch 3-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks fledge 23-26 days after hatching. They reach sexual maturity after 1 year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The black-eared fairy has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon. Although there is no data on population trends, this species is expected to decline moderately in the future due to habitat loss, based on models of Amazonian deforestation.

White-tailed goldenthroat

Polytmus guainumbi

(Photo from Flickr)

Common name:
white-tailed goldenthroat (en); beija-flor-de-bico-curvo (pt); colibri guaïnumbi (fr); colibrí guainumbí (es); bronzerücken-glanzkehlchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This South American species is found in Colombia, Venezuela, through the Guyanas and north-eastern Brazil and into central Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. It is mostly absent from the Amazon basin.

Size:
These birds are 9-10 cm long and weigh around 5 g.

Habitat:
The white-tailed goldenthroat is mostly found in wet grasslands and dry savannas, but also in freshwater marshes and swamps, from sea level up to an altitude of 600 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of flowering plants, namely Heliconiaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Rubiaceae, bt will also catch insects and spiders by hawking and gleaning.

Breeding:
White-tailed goldenthroats nest in a small open cup made of plant fibres, seeds and lichens. The nest is placed in a fork in a small tree or scrub, typically 0,5-1 m above the ground and often over water. There the female lays 2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-15 days. The chicks fledge 20-22 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. There is no information regarding population trends, but the white-tailed goldenthroat is suspected to be stable.

Ecuadorian hillstar

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

(Photo from 10,000 Birds)

Common name:
Ecuadorian hillstar (en); beija-flor-de-Chimborazo (pt); colibri du Chimborazo (fr); colibrí del Chimborazo (es); Ecuador-Andenkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found along the Andes mountain range, in Ecuador and southern Colombia.

Size:
These birds are 11,5-13 cm long and weigh 7,5-8 g.

Habitat:
The Ecuadorian hillstar is found in high-altitude grasslands and pastures, and sometimes also in humid rocky slopes, on volcanic mountains up to the snowline. They occur at altitudes of 3.500-5.200 m.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various flowers, particularly the orange flowers of the Chuquiragua scrub, but also take several insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Ecuadorian hillstars can breed all year round, with a peak in October-February. The nest is a small cup made of moss, roots, dry grass, feathers, rabbit fur and vegetable down, typically placed in a cave, gully or crevice in a steep ravine, often below an overhang. The nest may also be suspended from small ferns or built in trees such as Polypelis, up to 6 m above the ground. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 3-4 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a restricted breeding range and is described as common and patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Fawn-breasted brilliant

Heliodoxa rubinoides

Photo by Larry Thompson (Discover Life)

Common name:
fawn-breasted brilliant (en); beija-flor-brilhante-fulvo (pt); brilliant rubinoïde (fr); brillante pechigamuza (es); braunbauch-brilliantkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found in both the eastern and western slopes of the Andes, in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and northern Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 11 cm long and weigh 8 g.

Habitat:
The fawn-breasted brilliant is mostly found in mountain rainforests, but also in lowland rainforests, pastures, rural gardens and even within urban areas. They are present at altitudes of 1.700-2.700 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of highly scented, brightly coloured flowers, but will also hunt small spiders and insects.

Breeding:
The fawn-breasted brilliant is polygynous, with the males having no further part in the breeding process after mating. The breed in January-May. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest using plant fibres and moss, which is lined with softer materials and placed in a scrub or tree. There she lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks are fed and brooded by the female and fledge 20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. It is not considered threatened at present.

Black-throated mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Photo by Fredrik Forsberg (Eldi Foto)

Common name:
black-throated mango (en); beija-flor-de-veste-preta (pt); mango à cravate noire (fr); mango gorginegro (es); schwarzbrust-mangokolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This South American species is found from eastern Panama through Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, and into Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina. It is mainly found east of the Andes, but also in coastal Ecuador. The black-throated mango is also found in Trinidad and Tobago.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 7 g.

Habitat:
The black-throated mango is mostly found in moist scrublands, second growths and cultivated land, but also rainforests and also within urban areas. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on nectar and small flying insects.

Breeding:
Black-throated mangos can breed all year round. The nest is a tiny cup made of lichens and plant down, placed on top of a bare horizontal branch 8-15 m above the ground. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 16-18 days. The chicks fledge 24-25 days after hatching but remain with the mother for another 3-4 weeks. Each female raised 2 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. It is not considered threatened at present.

Fork-tailed woodnymph

Thalurania furcata

Photo by Bill Bouton (Wikipedia)

Common name:
fork-tailed woodnymph (en); beija-flor-tesoura-verde (pt); dryade à queue fourchue (fr); zafiro golondrina (es); schwalbennymphe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This South American species is found from central Venezuela and Colombia down to southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. They are only found east of the Andes.

Size:
These birds are 9-10 cm long and weigh around 6 g.

Habitat:
The fork-tailed woodnymph is mostly found in tropical rainforests and swamp forests, but also in degraded parches of former forests, plantations and rural gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They feed on both nectar and small insects, namely flies and ants.

Breeding:
Fork-tailed woodnymphs nest in a deep cup made of plant fibres and spider webs, attached to a fork or small branch in a tree about 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates for 14-18 days. The chicks fledge 18-24 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common. The fork-tailed woodnymph is expected to suffer a small to moderate decline in the near future, due to habitat loss and degradation, based on a model of Amazonian deforestation.

Green-throated mango

Anthracothorax viridigula

Photo by Michel Giraud-Audine (Flickr)

Common name:
green-throated mango (en); beija-flor-de-veste-verde (pt); mango à cravate verte (fr); mango gorgiverde (es); smaragdkehl-mangokolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found in north-eastern South America, along the coastal areas from northern Venezuela, through the Guyanas and down to the mouth of the Amazon river, in Brazil. They are also found inland, along the Amazon river up to Manaus.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh around 9 g.

Habitat:
The green-throated mango is found in moist forests and savannas, mangroves, second growths, marshes, bogs and swamps, from sea level up to an altitude of 500 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of a variety of brightly coloured, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, scrubs and epiphytes. They also hunt small spiders and insects, especially during the breeding season, which may be taken from the vegetation of captured in flight.

Breeding:
Green-throated mangos nest in a deep cup, made of plant fibres woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage. The nest is lined with soft plant fibres, animal hair and feather down, and is placed in a low, thin horizontal branch, in a scrub or tree. The female lays 1-3 white eggs which she incubates alone for 15-16 days while the male defends the territory. The chicks are fed by the female and fledge 24-25 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon. This species is suspected to be declining locally owing to ongoing habitat loss, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Allen's hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

Photo by Alexander Viduetsky (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Allen's hummingbird (en); beija-flor-de-Allen (pt); colibri d'Allen (fr); colibrí de Allen (es); Allenkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species occurs in western North America. The nominate susbspecies S. s. sasin is migratory, breeding along the western coast of the United States, from Oregon to southern California, and wintering in central Mexico. The other subspecies S. s. sedentarius is resident, originally being found on the Channel Islands, off southern California, but having colonized since the 1960s the Los Angeles and Orange counties in southern California.

Size:
These tiny birds are 7,5-9 cm long and have a wingspan of 11 cm. They weigh just 2-4 g.

Habitat:
They breed in moist coastal areas, including scrublands, chaparral and forests. Outside the breeding season they are found in both dry and moist scrublands and dry tropical forests.

Diet:
Allen's hummingbirds mainly feed on the nectar of various flowers, especially red tubular flowers such as penstemons, red monkeyflowers, red columbines, paintbrush and scarlet sage. They also eat tree sap and small insects such as flies, ants, small beetles and tiny wasps, and spiders.

Breeding:
These birds breed in November-June. They are polygynous, with each male matting with several females and having no further part on the breeding process. The female builds the nest alone, a tiny cup made of moss, lichens, spider webs, bark flakes and pine needles, placed in a scrub or on a small twig or branch of a tree. There she lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 16-22 days. The chicks are raised by the female and fledge 22-25 days after hatching, immediately becoming independent from their mother.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and a global population estimated at 530.000 individuals. The population may the undergoing a small decline but the quality of data is not very reliable.

Straight-billed hermit

Phaethornis bourcieri

Photo by Maxime Dechelle (Oiseaux)

Common name:
straight-billed hermit (en); rabo-branco-de-bico-direito (pt); ermite de Bourcier (fr); ermitaño de pico recto (es); braunbauch-schattenkolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This South American species is found in the northern Amazon basin, in northern Brazil, the Guyanas, southern Venezuela, southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru.

Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and weigh just 4 g.

Habitat:
Straight-billed hermits are found in the understory of rainforests, tropical mountain forests, swamp forests and moist scrubland, also being found in second growths, bamboo thickets and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.600 m.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various flowers, also taking some small arthropods.

Breeding:
The straight-billed hermit nests in a a cone-shaped cup made of plant materials, placed hanging from a large leaf which folds under its weight forming a natural cover that hides the nest. There the female lays 1-3 white eggs which she incubates alone for 17-18 days. The chicks fledge 21-23 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. Based on the current rate of deforestation in the Amazonian forest, this species is suspected to be facing a moderate decline. Despite this, the straight-billed hermit is not considered threatened at present.

Brown violet-ear

Colibri delphinae

Photo by Dusan Brinkhuizen (Sapayoa)

Common name:
brown violet-ear (en); beija-flor-castanho (pt); colibri de Delphine (fr); colibrí pardo (es); brauner veilchenohrkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species is found in the mountains of Central America and western and northern South America, from Guatemala to Colombia and then south along the Andes to Bolivia, and east to Venezuela, the Guyanas and northern Brazil. There are also isolated populations in Trinidad and Tobago and in the Brazilian state of Bahía.


Size:
These birds are 11,5-12,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 15 cm. They weigh 6,5-7 g.


Habitat:
The brown violet-ear is mostly found in the canopy of rainforests but may also be found in second growth areas and coffee plantations. They are found at altitudes of 100-2.800 m.


Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of various trees and epiphytes, but will also take insects and spiders.


Breeding:
The brown violet-ear is polygamous, with the males gathering in leks to attract females and having no further part in the breeding process after the copulation. After mating, the female builds a cup-shaped nest made of soft plant down other fibres, held together with spider webs. The nest is placed in a scrub or tree, typically 1-4 m above the ground. There she lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone. There is no information about the length of the incubation period, but the chicks, who the female feeds alone, fledge 9-14 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common and patchily distributed. The population is suspected to be declining do to ongoing habitat loss.

Calliope hummingbird

Stellula calliope

Photo by Frank Leung (Musée Virtuel du Canada)

Common name:
calliope hummingbird (en); (pt); colibri calliope (fr); colibrí calíope (es); sternelfe (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trichilidae


Range:
This species breeds in the western United States and in south-western Canada, migrating south to winter in southern Mexico.


Size:
This tiny hummingbirds is 7-9 cm long and has a wingspan of 11 cm, weighing just 2-3 g.


Habitat:
They breed in moist scrublands, grasslands and open mountain forests, often near streams, at altitudes of 200-3.400 m and winter in similar habitats but also in agricultural areas.


Diet:
Calliope hummingbirds mainly eat nectar, especially of red tubular flowers, but will also take small insects and spiders.


Breeding:
These birds nest in a compact cup of plant down, moss, bark and fibres, with lichens on the outside, held together with spider webs. The nest is placed in a twig or branch of a pine or other conifer, or sometimes in a scrub. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 18-21 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 1 million individuals. The population has had a stable trend over the last 4 decades.

Horned sungem

Heliactin bilophus

Photo by Arthur Grosset (Arthur Grosset's Birds)

Common name:
horned sungem (en); chifre-de-ouro (pt); colibri aux huppes d'or (fr); colibrí cornudito (es); goldhauben-schmuckkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species is found in the southern half of Brazil and marginally across the border into Bolivia, and there is a disjunct population in northern Brazil and Surinam.


Size:
These birds are 8-10 cm long and weigh 2-2,5 g.


Habitat:
Horned sungems are found in dry savannas, dry grasslands, open forests, forest edges and rural gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.


Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various plants, namely Caesalpinoideae, Vochysiaceae and Asteraceae. They also eat small insects.


Breeding:
These birds nest in a small cup made of soft plant material and cobweb, usually placed in a fork of a small scrub, 1 m above ground. The female lays 2 eggs which she incubates alone for 12-13 days. The chicks fledge 20-23 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon. The species is suspected to be increasing since it readily adapts to man-made habitats such as gardens and cultivated areas. It is believed to be expanding northwards, probably due to deforestation.

Green-throated carib

Eulampis holosericeus

Photo by Donald Gudehus (Parfait Image)

Common name:
green-throated carib (en); beija-flor-das-Caraíbas-de-garganta-verde (pt); colibri falle-vert (fr); colibrí caribeño gorgiverde (es); blaustern-Antillenkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species is only found in the Caribbean, in the islands from eastern Puerto Rico and Grenada.


Size:
They are 10,5-12,5 cm long and weigh 5,5-8 g.


Habitat:
The green-throated carib is found in open secondary vegetation, semi-deciduous woodlands, rainforests, moist scrublands, agricultural areas and parks. It is present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.


Diet:
These birds mainly feed on the nectar of flowering scrubs and trees, including Heliconia, Lantana, Cordia, and Bryophyllum, as well as other flowering plants with long nectar repositories. They also eat flies, wasps, ants, small beetles and spiders.


Breeding:
Green-throated caribs breed in February-May. The female builds the nest alone, a compact cup made of bark and lichens, and lined with soft fibres of cacti, seeds, and tree ferns. The nest is usually placed in the fork of a twig, up to 9 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 17-19 days. The chicks are fed by the female and fledge 20-22 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3-4 weeks later. Each pair raises 1, or rarely 2 broods per years.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species as a small breeding range, but it is described as common. Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to be declining and it is known to adapt well to human-affected habitats.

Rufous-breasted hermit

Glaucis hirsuta

(Photo from Guia das Aves do Pantanal)

Common name:
rufous-breasted hermit (en); balança-rabo-de-bico-torto (pt); ermite hirsute (fr); ermitaño hirsuto (es); rotschwanz-schattenkolibri


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species is found from Panama to Bolivia and south-eastern Brazil, and also in Trinidad and Tobago.


Size:
These birds are 10-12 cm long and weigh 5,5-8 g.


Habitat:
Rufous-breasted hermits are mostly found in rainforests, but also in swamp forests, dry savanna, dry grasslands and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.100 m but may occasionally be found as high as 3.500 m above sea level.


Diet:
They mostly eat the nectar of flowers from the forest understorey, but can only visit flowers with a similar shape to that of their bill, namely Costus scaber, Heliconia standleyi and Heliconia stricta, Duroia hirsuta, Palicourea lasiantha, Psychotria bahiensis and Psychotria platypoda, Sanchezia peruviana, Drymonia semicordata and Cuphea melvilla. They also take small invertebrates such as spiders.


Breeding:
Rufous-breasted hermits breed mostly in May-November, but can breed all year round in some areas. Both sexes build the nest, a small cup made of plant fibres, rootlets, spider webs, dried leaves, very slender twigs, and lichens, which is attached to the underside of a leaf of a palm tree or fern, 1-10 m above the ground. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 16-19 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 20-25 days after hatching, but remain with their mother for another 3-4 weeks.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. It is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat loss and loss of suitable food plants, but overall the rufous-breasted hermit is not considered threatened at present.

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

(Photo from Dream Birding)

Common name:
ruby-throated hummingbird (en); beija-flor-de-garganta-vermelha (pt); colibri à gorge rubis (fr); colibrí de garganta roja (es); rubinkehlkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This species breeds throughout the eastern United States and south-eastern Canada. They migrate south to winter in Central America from Mexico to Panama.


Size:
These birds are 7-9 cm long and have a wingspan of 8-11 cm. They weigh 3-4 g.


Habitat:
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are mostly found breeding in open deciduous forests, but also in pine forests, along forest edges, in grasslands and in orchards and gardens. During winter they are found in deciduous tropical forests, in agricultural areas and along rivers and marshes. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.900 m.


Diet:
They mostly eat the nectar of a wide variety of flowering plants, namely red buckeye Aesculus pavia, jewelweed Impatiens sp., columbine Aquilegia canadensis, trumpet creeper Campsis radicans, red morning-glory Ipomea coccinea, coral honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens, fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis, cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis, catchfly Silene armeria and fire-pink Silene virginica. They also hunt small invertebrates such as mosquitos, gnats, fruit flies, small bees and spiders.


Breeding:
The ruby-throated hummingbird breeds in March-July. They are polygynous and the males have no further part in the breeding process after mating with the females. The female builds the nest, a small cup made of thistle or dandelion down held together with strands of spider silk and sometimes pine resin, and with some pieces of lichen and moss for camouflage. The nest is placed on top of a branch, 3-7 m above the ground. The female lays 1-3 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 10-14 days. The chicks are raised by the female and fledge 18-22 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 1 week later. Each female may raise 1-2 broods per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 7 million individuals. The population has undergone a large increase of 27% per decade over the last 4 decades.

White-chinned sapphire

Hylocharis cyanus

(Photo from Animales)

Common name:
white-chinned sapphire (en); beija-flor-roxo (pt); saphir azuré (fr); zafiro de cabeza azul (es); weißkinn-saphirkolibri (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This South American species is found from Venezuela and Colombia to south-eastern Brazil and northern Argentina.


Size:
These birds are 8-9 cm long and weigh just 4 g.


Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in rainforests, but also in dry forests, dry scrublands, plantations and urban parks and gardens. They occur at altitudes of 200-1.000 m.


Diet:
They eat the nectar of various flowers, from the ground to the tree canopy, and will also take insects and spiders.


Breeding:
The white-chinned sapphire nests in a small cup made of plant fibres, placed in scrub, tree or root up to 4 m above the ground. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for  14-15 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 20-26 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing at a significant rate.

Sapphire-spangled emerald

Amazilia lactea

Photo by Marcelo Cazani (Flickr)

Common name:
sapphire-spangled emerald (en); beija-flor-de-peito-azul (pt); ariane saphirine (fr); diamante pechizafiro (es); saphiramazilie (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae


Range:
This South American species has 3 subspecies with separate breeding ranges. A. l. lactea is found in south-eastern Brazil, from Bahía to Paraná; A. l. barletti is found in central and southern Peru and northern Bolivia, and may also occur in Ecuador; A. l. zimmeri is found in south-eastern Venezuela.


Size:
These birds are 9-10 cm long and weigh 3,5-5 g.


Habitat:
The sapphire-spangled emerald is found in moist forests, second growth woodlands, plantations, rural gardens and within urban areas.


Diet:
They eat the nectar of various plants, both native and exotic, being an important pollinator. They also eat insects, sometimes collecting them from spider webs.


Breeding:
Sapphire-spangled emeralds breed in October- December. The nest is a shallow cup, made of plant fibres, spider webs and lichens, placed in an horizontal branch or vine not far from the ground. The female lays 2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 18-19 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population is believed to be stable, so the species is not threatened at present.