The ruby-topaz hummingbird, commonly referred to simply as the ruby topaz, is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae, the mangoes. It is found in Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Colombia, Curaçao, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern South America and southern Caribbean islands
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil into eastern Colombia and northern Bolivia, and on Trinidad and Tobago and the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao), with occurrences also noted in Panama and French Guiana. It favors open to semi-open habitats such as savannas, dry scrub, edges of woodland, mangroves, plantations, and gardens. Often found near flowering shrubs and trees in both rural and urban areas. Uses perches in open sites to survey and defend nectar sources.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The male’s crown and throat flash a brilliant ruby and golden-topaz only at certain angles due to iridescent feather structure. Females are much plainer, with green upperparts and whitish underparts, aiding camouflage at the nest. They readily visit flowering gardens and can be surprisingly bold, defending rich nectar sources from other birds.
Temperament
territorial and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering and quick darts
Social Behavior
Generally solitary; males vigorously defend rich flowering patches from rivals and other nectar feeders. Courtship involves display flights and showing off the glittering throat and crown. Females build a tiny cup nest of plant down and spider silk and raise the two-chick brood without male assistance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and twitters, often given while foraging or chasing intruders. Wing hum is audible at close range, and males may add rapid twittering notes during display flights.
Plumage
Male with intensely iridescent ruby crown and gorget that grade into golden-topaz tones on the throat and upper breast; upperparts dark bronzy-green with rufous to coppery rump and tail. Female with green upperparts, whitish underparts washed buff on the flanks, and a rufous tail with a dark subterminal band. Iridescence shifts dramatically with light angle.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a wide variety of flowering shrubs and trees, including both native and ornamental species. It supplements sugars with small arthropods, hawking gnats and other tiny insects in the air or gleaning from foliage. Individuals vigorously defend rich nectar sources and may make repeated trapline circuits among favored blooms.
Preferred Environment
Often forages at forest edges, savannas, gardens, and second growth where flowering plants are abundant. Common around human habitation with ornamental flowering shrubs and feeders.
