Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis)

Name Origin:
The genus name Polyerata derives from the Greek poly meaning “many” and eratos meaning “lovely” or “charming,” a fitting tribute to the group’s brilliant beauty. The species name amabilis is Latin for “lovely,” reflecting the bird’s delicate form and iridescent coloration.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: 4–5 g (0.14–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Southern Mexico through Central America to western Colombia and Ecuador
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,200 m (3,940 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, plantations, and gardens
🧬 Clade: Trochilini "Emeralds" (mid- to lowland hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Subspecies & Distribution

Monotypic species with no recognized subspecies.

Distribution: Found from southern Mexico (Chiapas) south through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, extending into western Panama, western Colombia, and western Ecuador. Occurs primarily in humid lowland and foothill forest and along forest edges, rivers, and gardens rich in flowering plants.

Species Overview

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is one of the most luminous and widely distributed lowland hummingbirds in Central America and the northwestern Andes. Its brilliant turquoise breast and glossy green plumage make it a frequent highlight along humid forest trails and garden clearings.

Male Description:
The male has iridescent emerald-green upperparts, a turquoise-blue throat and chest, and grayish underparts. The tail is bronze-green and slightly forked, while the bill is straight and black. When struck by sunlight, the blue on the chest gleams vividly against the bird’s otherwise green plumage.

Female Description:
The female resembles the male but is paler below, with a duller blue-green throat, grayish-white belly, and a shorter, rounded tail with white tips. She forages more quietly and often lower in vegetation than the male.

Habitat & Behavior:
This species inhabits humid forests, forest edges, and second growth, often near rivers or in shaded plantations. It feeds on nectar from Heliconia, Inga, and Hamelia flowers, also taking small insects. The Blue-chested Hummingbird is territorial around nectar sources but tolerates other species at large flowering trees. Its song is a short, dry trill, and its flight is fast and direct, punctuated by frequent hovering pauses.

Conservation Note:
The Blue-chested Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common across much of its range. Its adaptability to semi-open and secondary habitats helps maintain stable populations, though deforestation and agricultural expansion continue to impact local abundance. Conservation of humid lowland forests and flower-rich corridors is essential to support this jewel of the Neotropics.