The scaly-breasted hummingbird or scaly-breasted sabrewing is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Region
Central America to northwestern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from southeastern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama into northern Colombia. Favors lowland and foothill humid forest, semi-deciduous woodland, edges, and riverine corridors. Common in secondary growth, cacao and coffee plantations, and flowering gardens. Uses the midstory to subcanopy to feed, but will also descend to low shrubs when nectar is abundant.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the scaly-breasted sabrewing, this large hummingbird of the “emeralds” group is noted for the distinctive scaled pattern on its underparts. It readily uses forest edges, second growth, and plantations, and often becomes quite territorial around rich nectar sources. Despite its size, it makes high, thin chips and a sharp tsee, while its rapid wingbeats produce a noticeable hum.
Temperament
territorial and assertive at nectar sources
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Mostly solitary outside of breeding, and males do not form pair bonds. Males defend rich flowering patches vigorously against other hummingbirds. The female builds a small cup nest of plant down bound with spider silk on a horizontal branch or fork. She incubates and rears the young alone.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and sharp tseet notes delivered from exposed perches. Also gives short buzzy trills during aggressive encounters. The rapid wing hum can be conspicuous at close range.
Plumage
Bronzy-green upperparts with a slight golden sheen; underparts grayish to whitish, heavily scalloped with green-edged feathers that create a scaly look. Tail dusky with a bluish gloss; throat and breast scaling most conspicuous. Feathers are sleek and iridescent in good light.
Diet
Takes nectar from a wide variety of tubular and brushy flowers, including forest edge plants and cultivated ornamentals. Supplements energy intake with small arthropods gleaned from foliage or caught in brief sallies. Will trapline along a circuit of flowering plants but often shifts to territorial defense when blooms are concentrated. Insects provide essential proteins, especially during breeding.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, and gardens where flowering shrubs and trees are abundant. Often forages at mid-height but will visit low blossoms and occasionally the canopy when trees are in bloom.
