Sapphire-throated Hummingbird

Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis)

Name Origin:
The genus Chrysuronia is derived from the Greek chrysos meaning “gold” and ouranos meaning “sky,” referencing the brilliant, shimmering plumage typical of this genus. The species name coeruleogularis means “blue-throated” in Latin, describing the male’s striking iridescent throat.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.0–4.5 g (0.14–0.16 oz)
🌎 Range: Southern Costa Rica through Panama and into northern Colombia
🧭 Elevation: 0–1,000 m (0–3,280 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Mangroves, coastal scrub, open woodland, and second-growth
🧬 Clade: Trochilini (“Emeralds”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Three subspecies:

1. Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis
   Distribution: Pacific slope of western Panama (Chiriquí to the Canal Zone); also recorded in extreme southern Costa Rica near the Panama border.

2. Chrysuronia coeruleogularis confinis
   Distribution: Eastern Panama (mainly Caribbean slope of Darién) and adjacent northwestern Colombia.

3. Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina
   Distribution: Northern Colombia, from northern Chocó through the Ciénaga Grande to the base of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Species Overview

The Sapphire-throated Hummingbird is a coastal species of lowland Central America and northern Colombia, known for its vibrant blue throat and metallic green plumage. Males show an intense violet-blue gorget that contrasts with green upperparts and a slightly forked tail. Females lack the bright throat but share the green-and-white body pattern. It is often seen in mangroves and scrubby clearings, feeding from flowering shrubs and small trees.

Male Description:
Bright metallic green above, deep blue-violet gorget, pale grayish belly, slightly forked dark tail, and a straight black bill.

Female Description:
Green upperparts, whitish underparts with faint buffy sides, and no blue gorget. Tail is rounded and tipped with white.

Habitat & Behavior:
Inhabits mangrove edges, coastal dry forest, lowland woodland, and shrubby second-growth. Often seen foraging alone or loosely with other species. Visits flowering trees and shrubs and is tolerant of disturbed environments. Regularly perches in the open and gives sharp, high-pitched calls.

Conservation Note:
The Sapphire-throated Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern, with stable populations across its fragmented range. While coastal development and mangrove clearance pose ongoing threats in parts of its range, the species’ adaptability to disturbed habitats helps buffer against immediate decline. Local monitoring remains important, particularly in mangrove conservation areas where it is most dependent.

---

Below is the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coeruleogularis)

Photographed in southern Costa Rica near the Panama border

These individuals belong to the subspecies coeruleogularis, which ranges along the Pacific slope of western Panama from Chiriquí to the Canal Zone and extends into extreme southern Costa Rica. It inhabits lowland forest edge, mangroves, and shrubby secondary growth, typically below 1,000 meters.

---

Below is the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis coelina)

Photographed in Sitionuevo, Magdalena, Colombia

These individuals belong to the subspecies coelina, found in northern Colombia from Chocó through the lower Magdalena Valley and eastward to the Santa Marta region. It favors mangroves, open woodland, and disturbed areas along coastal lowlands.

Checkout Anthony’s playlist of this species! Click the top right dropdown to see all the videos.