The purple-throated mountaingem is a species of hummingbird in tribe Lampornithini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Region
Central American montane forests
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests from northern Costa Rica into western Panama, with records extending into southern Nicaragua. It favors forest edges, clearings with flowering shrubs, secondary growth, and highland gardens. Both Caribbean and Pacific slopes are used where suitable flowers are available. Birds may descend slightly during dry seasons or when certain plants bloom at lower elevations. It is most frequently encountered near dense patches of tubular flowers.
Altitude Range
900–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This highland hummingbird is noted for the male’s glittering purple throat, which flashes vividly in good light. It aggressively defends flower patches and often visits gardens at mid to high elevations. Former southern populations are now treated as a separate species (White-throated Mountaingem), so range limits depend on taxonomy. It performs short altitudinal movements following blooms.
Temperament
territorial and assertive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with precise hovering
Social Behavior
Generally solitary outside of breeding, with males defending rich flower patches against intruders. Courtship involves aerial chases and display flights near flowering shrubs. Nest is a small cup of plant fibers and moss, usually placed on a sheltered branch or root, and only the female tends the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of sharp chips and thin, high-pitched twitters delivered from perches near feeding sites. Wing hum is audible at close range and often betrays its presence before it is seen.
Plumage
Male with shimmering green upperparts and a brilliant purple throat framed by a clean white stripe behind the eye; underparts grayish to whitish. Female is bronzy-green above with warm buff to cinnamon underparts and a pale throat; both sexes show a contrasting white post-ocular line. Tail is slightly notched with darker central feathers and pale tips.
Diet
Primarily consumes nectar from a variety of tubular flowers, including shrubs and epiphytes. It often traplines between flowering plants but will also defend especially productive patches. Small insects and spiders are taken by hawking and gleaning to provide protein, especially during breeding. It adjusts foraging height with bloom availability.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, in clearings with abundant flowering shrubs, and in shaded highland gardens. Frequently visits edges of cloud forest and second growth where nectar sources are concentrated.
