Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem
Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis amethystinus)
Name Origin:
The genus name Lampornis derives from the Greek lampros (“brilliant”) and ornis (“bird”), meaning “bright bird.” The species name amethystinus comes from amethystos (“amethyst-colored”), referring to the male’s gleaming violet throat patch.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5.5–6.5 g (0.19–0.23 oz)
🌎 Range: Highlands of Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras
🧭 Elevation: 1,200–3,000 m (3,940–9,840 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest, cloud forest edges, and shaded forest clearings
🧬 Clade: Lampornithini — “Mountain Gems” (highland hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)
Subspecies & Distribution
5 subspecies:
Amethyst-throated
L. a. amethystinus
Distribution: Mountains of central and eastern Mexico (southern Nuevo León and southern Tamaulipas to Veracruz and northern Oaxaca).
L. a. circumventus
Distribution: Southern Mexico (western Sierra de Miahuatlán, southwestern Oaxaca).
L. a. salvini
Distribution: Highlands of southern Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, and El Salvador.
L. a. nobilis
Distribution: Highlands of Honduras.
Violet-throated
L. a. margaritae
Distribution: Southwestern Mexico (Nayarit and Jalisco to Michoacán and western Oaxaca).
Species Overview
The Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem is a striking highland hummingbird, found in the misty montane forests of Mexico and northern Central America. True to its name, males shimmer with brilliant violet throats that glint like gemstones in filtered mountain light. Often seen hovering among orchids and bromeliads, this species is a signature presence of cloud forests and shaded slopes.
Male Description:
The male is characterized by vibrant green upperparts, a brilliant violet to amethyst gorget, and grayish underparts washed with green on the flanks. The crown and nape are metallic green, and the tail is dark with bluish gloss. His straight black bill and medium size make him one of the most conspicuous hummingbirds in his range.
Female Description:
The female lacks the vivid throat coloration, with green upperparts, grayish-white underparts, and faint buff flanks. The tail is dark with white tips on the outer feathers. She is more subtly marked but equally elegant, foraging close to the forest edge and among shaded flowering shrubs.
Habitat & Behavior:
This mountain-gem inhabits humid oak-pine forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, often between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. It feeds mainly on nectar from tubular flowers but also catches small insects in flight. Males are territorial and often perch conspicuously while defending feeding sites. Their vocalizations are sharp and metallic, echoing through montane forest understories.
Conservation Note:
Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem remains common throughout much of its range. However, deforestation and habitat fragmentation in montane regions could threaten local populations. The preservation of cloud forests and highland corridors is vital for maintaining this hummingbird’s diverse subspecies and ecological roles as a mountain pollinator.
Below is the Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis amethystinus margaritae)
Photographed in Puerto del Gallo, General Heliodoro Castillo, Guerrero, Mexico
This individual belongs to the subspecies margaritae, which occurs along the Pacific slope of southwestern Mexico, from Nayarit and Jalisco through Michoacán and into western Oaxaca and Guerrero. In this region, the species inhabits humid montane forest, pine-oak woodland, and forest edge zones with dense flowering shrubs.
The male shows a deep amethyst-violet throat that glows under direct light, with metallic green upperparts and a contrasting grayish chest band. Females are green above with pale underparts and faint violet wash on the throat. The species is often vocal and active around flowering trees and forest edge clearings.
