Glittering-throated Emerald (Chionomesa fimbriata)

Identification & Behavior: ~9.5 cm (4 in). The Glittering-throated Emerald is mostly green. It has a characteristic pale center of the belly, vent area, and undertail coverts. The tail is dark blue and slightly notched. The bill is nearly straight with a black culmen and red mandible.  The throat and breast feathers may have a grayish fringe to them giving a scaly effect.  The Glittering-throated Emerald shares the pale middle belly wedge with the Sapphire-spangled Emerald but is distinguished by having green throat and breast versus violet in the latter. These species have limited geographic overlap.

Status: The Glittering-throated Emerald favors forest edges and second growth in Amazonia. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Colibrí de Garganta Brillante.

Sub-species: Glittering-throated Emerald (Chionomesa fimbriata laeta), E. Hartert, 1900.

Meaning of Name: Chionomesa: Gr. khiōn, khionos= snow; mesos= middle. fimbriata: L. fimbriatus, fimbriae= fringed, fringe, border.

Formerly known as Amazilia fimbriate (2019).

See more of the Family Trochilidae