The blue-throated goldentail, also known as the blue-throated sapphire, is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest.
Region
Mesoamerica
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica into Panama, with isolated occurrences in northern Colombia. It favors subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, forest edges, and second growth. The species readily uses human-altered habitats such as coffee plantations, hedgerows, and gardens with abundant flowering plants. It is generally local but can be fairly common where suitable nectar sources are concentrated.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small hummingbird is also called the blue-throated sapphire and is noted for the male’s glittering cobalt-blue throat and rufous-golden tail. It frequents forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, and gardens, often visiting flowering shrubs like Hamelia (firebush). Males can be surprisingly bold and territorial at rich nectar sources, chasing off other hummingbirds. Like most hummingbirds, it supplements nectar with tiny insects for protein.
Blue-throated Goldentail in flight, at Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica.
Monograph
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forages alone and males aggressively defend rich nectar patches. Courtship is individual rather than in leks; males display and chase near favored perches. The female builds a small cup nest of plant down and spider silk on a low horizontal branch and alone incubates and raises the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and tsip notes, often delivered from a shaded perch. Wingbeats create a soft, buzzy hum during close passes, and males may give rapid twittering series in chases.
Plumage
Glossy green upperparts with a bright, iridescent blue throat in males; underparts greenish to whitish with some glitter. Tail is distinctly rufous to golden with a metallic sheen. Females are duller with a paler throat and less intense blue.
Diet
Primarily nectar from tubular and brushy flowers such as Hamelia, Inga, Heliconia, and various epiphytes. It also takes tiny insects and spiders for protein, hawking them in short sallies or gleaning from foliage. At abundant blooms or feeders, it may vigorously exclude other hummingbirds.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, clearings, gardens, and plantations where flowering shrubs and trees are concentrated. Often forages at mid- to lower levels, moving methodically among blossoms and returning to favored perches.
