Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina)

Identification & Behavior: ~9 cm (3.5 in). The male Rufous-throated Sapphire is mostly green with a rufous chin and violet throat and breast. The bill is coral red with a black tip. The female has a similar color scheme but the violet and green on the underparts has a speckled quality to them and has a pale center of the belly. The bill is red and grades to black towards the tip. The tail in both sexes is coppery with more saturated colors in the male. The Rufous-throated Sapphire is superficially similar to the Golden-tailed Sapphire but is distinguished by having a coral red bill and rufous throat. Also, see White-chinned Sapphire.

Status: The Rufous-throated Sapphire is rare and poorly known in Amazonia. It occurs mostly on the north side of the Amazon but crosses to the south across the upper Marañon river towards the south. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Zafiro de Garganta Rufa.

Sub-species: Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina), J. F. Gmelin, 1788.

Meaning of Name: Hylocharis: Gr. Hulē= woodland, forest and kharis,  kharitos= grace, loveliness. sapphirina: Gr. Sappheirinos,  sapphirine, sappheiros= sapphire.

See more of the Family Trochilidae