Gould's jewelfront or Gould's brilliant is a medium-sized hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in tropical and equatorial South America. This is an uncommon species with an unusually large range compared to the other members of Heliodoxa.
Region
Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs widely but patchily across lowland and foothill rainforests of the western and central Amazon in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia. It favors mature terra firme and várzea forests, especially along edges, light gaps, and near streams. Often found in the shaded understory where flowering shrubs and epiphytes are abundant. Local densities are usually low, and the species can be inconspicuous despite its bright gorget.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Gould's jewelfront, also called Gould's brilliant, is a medium-sized hummingbird of Amazonian forests. It is named for its glowing, jewel-like throat patch that flashes in good light. Males defend rich flower patches aggressively, driving off rivals and larger insects.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically forages alone in the understory, with males defending flowering shrubs or vine tangles. Courtship involves aerial chases and display postures to show off the gorget. The small cup nest is placed on a sheltered horizontal branch or root, often overhanging a stream or clearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of thin, high-pitched tseet notes and short twitters delivered from a low perch. Wings produce a soft, insect-like buzz during close passes.
Plumage
Shimmering bronzy-green upperparts with a gleaming, jewel-like gorget and contrasting pale pectoral band; underparts dark green with some iridescence.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from understory flowers, including shrubs, vines, and epiphytes such as Heliconia and Inga. Supplements nectar with small arthropods captured by hawking or gleaning from foliage. Insect protein is important during breeding and for juvenile growth.
Preferred Environment
Most often feeds in shaded forest understory and along edges, light gaps, and stream margins where flowers are concentrated. Will also visit flowering trees at lower midstory levels.
