The white-bellied emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Region
Mesoamerica
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Gulf slope and Caribbean lowlands of southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and into parts of Panama. It favors semi-open habitats such as forest edges, second growth, cacao and coffee plantations, and well-vegetated gardens. Often concentrates where flowering shrubs, vines, and canopy trees are abundant. Uses perches within shrub layers for short sallies to blossoms and for aerial insect hawking.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small hummingbird is a common ‘emerald’ of lowlands and foothills from southern Mexico through much of Central America. It often forages along forest edges, plantations, and gardens, and readily visits flowering ornamentals and hummingbird feeders. By moving pollen among tubular blossoms, it is an important pollinator for many native plants.
Temperament
territorial and active
Flight Pattern
rapid wingbeats with agile hovering
Social Behavior
Typically solitary when foraging, with males defending rich flower patches against other hummingbirds. Courtship involves aerial chases and display flights near favored perches. The female builds a tiny cup nest of plant down bound with spider silk and incubates two white eggs; she alone raises the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high, thin chips and twitters, often given from a concealed perch. Males deliver quick, tinkling sequences and sharp tsit calls during territory defense, accompanied by an audible wing hum at close range.
Plumage
Glittering green head and upperparts with a bright green throat, sharply contrasting with a clean white belly and undertail. Tail is dusky green-bronze and slightly forked. Feathers are sleek and iridescent on the head and throat, with matte white underparts.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a wide variety of tubular flowers, including forest-edge shrubs, vines, and canopy blossoms. Supplements its diet with small arthropods captured by hawking or gleaning from foliage for essential proteins. Frequently visits flowering ornamentals and will use hummingbird feeders where available.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest margins, clearings, second growth, plantations (cacao/coffee), and urban or rural gardens. Prefers areas with continuous flowering and scattered perches for short sallies.
