Amethyst-throated Hummingbird

About the Amethyst-throated Hummingbird

The amethyst-throated mountaingem (Lampornis amethystinus), also called amethyst-throated mountain-gem or amethyst-throated hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird in tribe Lampornithini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

The amethyst-throated mountaingem has five subspecies: L. a. amethystinus Swainson (1827) L. a. margaritae Salvin & Godman (1889) L. a. circumventris A.R. Phillips (1966) L. a. salvini Ridgway (1908) L. a. nobilis Griscom (1932)

The amethyst-throated mountaingem is 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long. Males weigh 5 to 7.8 g (0.18 to 0.28 oz) and females 5 to 5.8 g (0.18 to 0.20 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a medium-length straight black bill, dark auriculars, a whitish stripe behind the eye, and a broad slightly forked tail.

Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a dark green crown and back, a bronze rump, and blackish uppertail coverts. The tail is black with gray tips on the outer feathers. It has a brilliant rosy pink gorget. The breast and belly are dusky gray and the undertail coverts pale buff. The female is almost the same but has a cinnamon... Wikipedia →