Green-throated Mountain-gem
Green-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis viridipallens)
Name Origin:
The genus Lampornis combines Greek lampros meaning “bright” and ornis meaning “bird,” referring to the shimmering plumage common in this group. The species name viridipallens comes from Latin viridis (“green”) and pallens (“pale”), describing the pale body and green throat of the male.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in)
⚖️ Weight: 5.4 g
🌎 Range: Southern Mexico to Honduras
🧭 Elevation: 900–2,700 m (3,000–8,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small insects
🏡 Habitat: Humid montane forest, pine-oak woodland, forest edge
🧬 Clade: Lampornithini (Mountain-gems)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Four subspecies:
Lampornis viridipallens viridipallens
Distribution: Eastern Guatemala, extreme northern El Salvador, and western Honduras.Lampornis viridipallens ovandensis
Distribution: Northwestern Guatemala and southern Chiapas, Mexico.Lampornis viridipallens amadoni
Distribution: Southeastern Oaxaca, Mexico.Lampornis viridipallens nubivagus
Distribution: Montane regions of El Salvador.
Species Overview
The Green-throated Mountain-gem is a medium-sized hummingbird found in Central America’s montane forests. It prefers cool, humid elevations and is typically seen near forest edges, in second growth, or in pine-oak clearings. Males are known for their green-spotted throats and iridescent green upperparts.
Male Description:
Green upperparts with bronzy rump and bluish-black uppertail coverts. The throat is white with bluish-green spotting. Breast is white, belly grayish, and flanks washed with green. Tail is dark with pale outer feathers. Bill is straight and black.
Female Description:
Similar to the male but lacks throat spotting. Underparts are whiter, and the flanks are less marked. Juveniles resemble females but may have buffy throat tones.
Habitat & Behavior:
Found in humid montane and pine-oak forests from about 900 to 2,700 meters elevation. Forages by visiting flowers for nectar and catching insects in flight. Often seen alone or in loose associations with other hummingbirds. Sedentary throughout its range.
Conservation Note:
This species is considered stable and is listed as Least Concern. However, its reliance on forested highland habitats means it may be vulnerable to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Conservation efforts should focus on preserving intact montane forest ecosystems.
Below is the Green‑throated Mountain‑gem (Lampornis viridipallens viridipallens)
Photographed in Guatemala.
These individuals belong to the subspecies viridipallens, which occupies the highlands of eastern Guatemala (and extends into extreme northern El Salvador and western Honduras). It inhabits humid montane forest and adjacent edges at elevations roughly between 900 and 2,700 m.
Below is the Green-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis viridipallens ovandensis)
Photographed in San Marcos, Guatemala.
These individuals belong to the subspecies ovandensis, which occurs in northwestern Guatemala and adjacent Chiapas, Mexico. It inhabits high-elevation humid forest and pine-oak zones and may be distinguishable by reduced green spotting on the underparts compared to the nominate form.
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