The white-chinned sapphire is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in northern South America. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
Region
Northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs across the Guiana Shield and adjacent northern Amazon Basin, including much of Venezuela’s northeast, the Guianas, and northern Brazil. It inhabits lowland moist forest, forest edges, riverine woodland, secondary growth, and scrub. The species also uses degraded habitats and gardens where flowering shrubs are abundant. It is generally absent from high elevations and dense interior montane forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as a hummingbird of the Guiana Shield and northern Amazon, the white-chinned sapphire was formerly placed in the genus Hylocharis and is now commonly treated as Chlorestes. It is readily told by the small but distinct white spot on the chin, a feature that separates it from similar green ‘sapphire’ hummingbirds. Males show glittering blue‑green on the head and throat, and both sexes often visit garden flowers and forest edges. It typically defends rich nectar sources with agile, buzzing chases.
Temperament
active and mildly territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with hovering; agile darting flights
Social Behavior
Typically solitary around nectar sources but may aggregate loosely where flowers are dense. Males defend small feeding territories and display through rapid chases and hovering postures. The cup-shaped nest is placed on a small branch or fork, often near clearings; clutch size is usually two eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are a series of thin, high-pitched chips and tzeet notes, given intermittently while perched. Wing hum is audible at close range during display and feeding.
Plumage
Shimmering green to blue‑green upperparts with a glittering greenish throat; small, neat white spot on the chin. Underparts otherwise greenish to gray‑green, with slightly darker tail that can show bluish or bronzy gloss. Feathers are smooth and iridescent, typical of hummingbirds.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a variety of flowering trees, shrubs, and epiphytes. Supplements diet with small insects and spiders, captured by hawking or gleaning from foliage, which provide protein. Often visits flowering gardens and second-growth edges where blooms are abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, river margins, clearings, and in secondary woodland and gardens. Tends to use mid‑story to canopy blooms but will also feed at lower shrubs in open areas.
