The western emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Found on the Pacific and Andean slopes of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It favors semi-open habitats including forest edges, clearings, coffee and cacao plantations, and rural gardens. The species readily visits flowering shrubs and ornamental plantings in towns and villages. It often coexists with other hummingbirds but defends rich nectar sources vigorously.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The western emerald is a small hummingbird of the Northern Andes, where it frequents forest edges, gardens, and second-growth. Males are a brilliant emerald green with a bluish tail, while females show grayish underparts with a bold white post-ocular stripe. Its name melanorhynchus refers to its typically dark, nearly black bill, suited for probing tubular flowers.
Temperament
territorial and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with hovering
Social Behavior
Generally solitary at flowers, with males defending small feeding territories against other hummingbirds. Nests are tiny cups of plant fibers and spider silk placed on horizontal branches or in shrubs. Typical clutch is two white eggs, with the female handling incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin tseet and chip notes given from low perches or while foraging. Wing hum is prominent at close range, and males may give rapid buzzy trills during brief chases.
Plumage
Male with glittering emerald-green upperparts and underparts and a blue‑green, slightly forked tail; female with green upperparts, grayish-white underparts, and a notched tail with white tips. Both sexes have a straight, slender dark bill and iridescent sheen typical of emerald hummingbirds.
Diet
Primarily feeds on nectar from a wide variety of tubular and brushy flowers, including native shrubs and cultivated ornamentals. Supplements its diet with small arthropods, hawking tiny insects in midair or gleaning them from foliage for protein. Will readily visit hummingbird feeders where available. Defends high-quality nectar patches but also uses traplining routes between scattered flowers.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, clearings, hedgerows, gardens, and plantations rich in flowering plants. Often feeds at understory to midstory heights, moving rapidly between blossoms. Uses perches near nectar sources for short resting intervals.
