The blue-chinned sapphire or blue-chinned emerald is a hummingbird that ranges from Colombia south and east to the Guianas, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, and Brazil. There have been occasional records from Tobago. For Brazil, the species' range is along the main Amazon River Basin, as well as the Atlantic Forest, both in the northeast, as well as far south on the southeast coastal strip,. It is sometimes placed in the genus Chlorostilbon.
Region
Northern South America and Trinidad
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Colombia south and east through Venezuela, the Guianas, and much of the Amazon Basin, reaching Peru and northern to southeastern Brazil, and also Trinidad (occasional on Tobago). It uses lowland rainforest edges, second-growth, gallery forest, mangroves, and cultivated areas including gardens and plantations. It is most common near clearings, along rivers and streams, and at forest margins where nectar flowers are abundant. In Brazil, it inhabits both the main Amazon River Basin and parts of the Atlantic Forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The blue-chinned sapphire is a small hummingbird whose male sports a glittering blue chin and throat, while females are green above and whitish below with white-tipped tail feathers. It frequents forest edges, gardens, and riverine habitats, often defending nectar sources against other hummingbirds. Like many hummingbirds, it builds a tiny cup nest from plant down and spider silk on low horizontal branches. It was long placed in the genus Chlorostilbon and is still sometimes listed that way.
Temperament
territorial and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Generally solitary outside of breeding and feeding interactions, with males defending rich nectar sources. Breeding involves a tiny cup nest of plant down bound with spider silk on a horizontal branch, often 1–3 m above ground or water. Males do not assist with parental care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives sharp, high-pitched chips and twitters, often delivered from a perch near feeding sites. Wingbeats create an audible buzz at close range, and display flights include rapid, thin notes.
Plumage
Male mostly shining green with a brilliant sapphire-blue chin and upper throat, darker tail with bluish gloss. Female green above, grayish to whitish underparts, and tail feathers with white tips; overall less iridescent than the male.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering shrubs, trees, and epiphytes such as Inga, Heliconia, and other tubular blossoms. Supplements diet with small arthropods—tiny insects and spiders—captured by hawking or gleaning. Will visit flowering trees in groups when blooms are abundant and may guard favored plants.
Preferred Environment
Typically forages at forest edges, along streams, in clearings, gardens, and second-growth where nectar sources are concentrated. Often feeds from mid-story to understory heights, hovering to probe flowers and sallying out for small insects.
