Green-throated Mountaingem

Overview

The green-throated mountaingem (Lampornis viridipallens) is a species of hummingbird found in Central America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• 11 to 12 cm long and weighing approximately 5.4 g, with a straight black bill and a slightly forked tail.
• A white stripe runs behind the eye above a dark cheek in both sexes.
• Adult males of the nominate subspecies feature green upperparts, a bronze rump, and a white throat with bluish green spots.
• Adult females possess emerald green upperparts and an unspotted white throat, while juveniles resemble females but have a pale buffy throat.

Habitat

This species inhabits the interior and edges of humid evergreen and pine-oak forests at elevations between 900 and 2,700 m. Its range covers El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, where it remains sedentary.

Diet

The bird forages for nectar at all levels of the forest, though specific plant visits are not described. It supplements its nectar intake by hawking for insects.

Did you know?

Parts of its habitat are under threat of deforestation, and the species is not known to tolerate man-made habitats.