Glittering-bellied Emerald
Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus)
Name Origin:
The genus name Chlorostilbon combines the Greek chloros (“green”) and stilbos (“shining”), describing the vibrant emerald hue characteristic of the genus. The species epithet lucidus means “bright” or “glittering” in Latin — a direct reference to the male’s gleaming green belly.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 8.5–9.5 cm (3.3–3.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: 3.2–4.0 g (0.11–0.14 oz)
🌎 Range: Southeastern South America
🧭 Elevation: Sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Open woodland, savanna, scrub, and urban gardens
🧬 Clade: Trochilini “Emeralds” (lowland and foothill hummingbirds)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Four subspecies:
1. Chlorostilbon lucidus lucidus
Distribution: Southeastern Brazil (from Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais south through São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina) to Uruguay, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina (Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos).
2. Chlorostilbon lucidus berlepschi
Distribution: Central Brazil, mainly in Bahia, Goiás, and Minas Gerais, extending westward into eastern Mato Grosso and south to São Paulo.
3. Chlorostilbon lucidus pucherani
Distribution: Northeastern Brazil (Pernambuco and Paraíba south to Alagoas), occupying drier Caatinga zones.
4. Chlorostilbon lucidus igneus
Distribution: Western Argentina, from Catamarca and Tucumán south to Mendoza and La Rioja, inhabiting arid Andean foothills and valleys.
Species Overview
The Glittering-bellied Emerald is one of South America’s most widespread and adaptable hummingbirds, found from arid scrublands to subtropical forests and even city parks. Its brilliant green plumage and rapid, darting flight make it a familiar sight across Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Despite its small size, it is bold, territorial, and highly vocal, often defending flower patches from much larger species.
Male Description:
The male is metallic green above, with a bright emerald belly, dark blue tail, and blackish bill. The underparts shine vividly in sunlight, giving the species its name. The tail is slightly forked and often flared during displays or while feeding.
Female Description:
The female has green upperparts and grayish-white underparts, with a short, notched tail featuring white tips on the outer feathers. Her subdued coloration provides excellent camouflage in drier habitats.
Habitat & Behavior:
Prefers open or semi-open habitats, including Cerrado woodland, Caatinga scrub, savanna, forest edges, and urban gardens. It feeds on nectar from Heliconia, Stachytarpheta, Hamelia, and Inga, and catches small insects midair. The Glittering-bellied Emerald is fast and aggressive, frequently returning to favored perches to guard rich nectar sources. Its sharp tik-tik-tik call is commonly heard in flowering thickets.
Conservation Note:
The Glittering-bellied Emerald is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common and widespread throughout its range. It thrives in both natural and human-modified habitats, and its populations are considered stable. Nonetheless, ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion in central Brazil may fragment some populations. The species benefits from protected areas such as Serra da Canastra National Park and Iguaçu National Park, and from the proliferation of urban gardens rich in nectar plants.
Below is the Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus lucidus)
Photographed at Lajedo dos Beija-Flores, Boa Nova, Bahia; Pousada Casa de Geleia, Lençóis, Bahia; Pico da Lapinha, Santana do Riacho, Minas Gerais; and Pousada da Fazenda, Monte Alegre do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil
These individuals belong to the nominate subspecies lucidus, which occurs from eastern and southern Brazil south through Uruguay and northern Argentina. It inhabits semi-open habitats, woodland edges, savanna, and dry forest clearings, often near flowering trees and shrubs between 200 and 1,800 meters.
Below is the Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus igneus)
Photographed at Reserva Natural Privada Eco-Portal de Piedra, Santa Bárbara, Jujuy, Argentina
This individual belongs to the subspecies igneus, which inhabits the Andean foothills and dry valleys of northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán) and adjacent southern Bolivia. It occupies arid scrub, open woodland, and montane slopes between 800 and 2,200 meters.
The igneus form is slightly darker green and more bronzy below than the nominate lucidus, with a slightly longer tail and bill. It forages actively at flowering trees and shrubs along dry ravines and semi-arid forest edge.
