Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
Scientific name: Chrysuronia lilliae
The Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird is a tiny, Endangered hummingbird known only from a small coastal wetland and adjacent scrub in northern Colombia. An estimated 285–440 mature individuals exist, the population is decreasing, it is considered non-migratory, endemic to Colombia, and monotypic.
At a Glance
Family: Trochilidae (hummingbirds)
Clade: Trochilini – Emeralds
Genus group: Chrysuronia — 10 species, 24 subspecies
Range: Restricted to the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta region on Colombia’s Caribbean coast and immediately adjoining arid scrublands.
Habitat: Subtropical and tropical mangrove forest dominated by tea mangrove Pelliciera rhizophorae and nearby coastal dry shrubland and scrub.
Elevation: Near sea level in low-lying coastal wetlands and scrub.
Length: About 8.9–9.4 cm (3.5–3.7 in).
Weight: Males around 4.3 g.
Number of mature individuals: 285–440
Population trend: Decreasing
Status: Endangered (IUCN)
Name Origin
The genus name Chrysuronia comes from Greek roots meaning “golden tail,” referring to the bright tails of several species in the genus, though the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird itself is best known for its brilliant underside. The species name lilliae honors Lillie or Lilia (the exact dedicatee varies by source), commemorating an individual associated with the species’ discovery. The English name “Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird” highlights its striking, glittering blue underparts, the feature that makes this rare hummingbird so distinctive.
Subspecies & Distribution
Monotypic; no subspecies are recognized. This species occurs only in and around the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast of northern Colombia, within mangrove forests and immediately adjacent arid scrub and dry shrubland.
Overall, Chrysuronia lilliae has one of the smallest ranges of any hummingbird, confined to a narrow stretch of coastal wetland and scrub in northern Colombia, which makes it highly vulnerable to habitat change.
Legend
Green Resident
Species Overview
The Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird is a rare, localized mangrove specialist and a flagship species for northern Colombia’s coastal wetlands. It is closely tied to mangroves, especially stands of tea mangrove Pelliciera rhizophorae, but will also venture into adjacent dry scrub where certain flowering trees and shrubs provide nectar. Its intense blue underparts and green upperparts set it apart from other hummingbirds in the area, and its tiny global population has made it a focus of conservation concern.
Male Description
Adult males are small, with a short, fairly straight bill that has a black upper mandible and a pinkish lower mandible tipped in black. The crown, back, and rump are shining green, and the tail is forked and blue‑black, giving a dark, metallic look in flight. The throat bears a glittering purple gorget, and the rest of the underparts are vivid, glittering blue, creating the “sapphire-bellied” effect for which the species is named. Overall, males appear as compact, bright green hummingbirds with a brilliant purple throat, deep blue belly, and a dark, forked tail.
Female Description
The female’s plumage has not been described in full detail but is believed to be broadly similar to that of the male, with green upperparts and blue-toned underparts, though the underside is thought to be somewhat grayer and less intensely saturated. The throat likely shows a reduced or less brilliant purple patch compared to the male’s gorget, and the overall contrast between upperparts and belly is softer. In the field, females are expected to look like duller versions of the male, with green above, bluish or grayish-blue below, and a dark forked tail.
Habitat & Behavior
Sapphire-bellied Hummingbirds inhabit low, coastal mangrove forests, especially those dominated by tea mangrove Pelliciera rhizophorae, and also feed in nearby arid scrub and dry shrubland that borders the mangroves. Their preferred nectar source appears to be tea mangrove flowers, but they will also visit blossoms of other coastal trees such as Erythrina fusca and likely supplement their diet with small insects. They typically forage at low to mid-levels in the mangrove canopy and scrub, hovering at flowers and making short flights between feeding sites. The species is considered sedentary, with no evidence of long-distance migratory movements beyond local shifts within its small range.
Population
The global population is estimated at roughly 285–440 mature individuals, making the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird one of the rarest hummingbirds in the world. It is known from only a handful of sites within a very limited area, and even within protected areas records are few. The combination of extremely small population size, restricted range, and ongoing habitat loss means the species is believed to be undergoing a continuing decline.
Conservation
The Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird is listed as Endangered because of its tiny population, extremely limited distribution, and the continuing destruction and degradation of its mangrove and coastal scrub habitats. Large portions of the coastal mangroves in northern Colombia have been cleared or damaged by agriculture, livestock pasture, industrial development, and pollution, reducing both the extent and quality of available habitat. Although the species occurs within at least two protected areas, effective management and habitat restoration are still critical, along with broader efforts to safeguard mangroves and associated wetlands. As a visually striking and highly localized species, the Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird serves as a powerful flagship for conserving Colombia’s coastal mangrove ecosystems.
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Related species in the Chrysuronia genus (10 species total):
Please note: The content provided in this article reflects Anthony’s personal experience and photographic approach. Results can vary depending on light, weather, location, equipment, subject behavior, and field conditions.