Shining-green Hummingbird

Shining-green Hummingbird (Chrysuronia goudoti)

Name Origin:
The genus Chrysuronia combines the Greek chrysos meaning “gold” and ouranos meaning “sky,” referring to the brilliant iridescence common in this group. The species name goudoti honors Justin Goudot, a French naturalist who collected in South America.

Quick Facts

🪶 Length: 9.5–11 cm (3.7–4.3 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~4.0–5.0 g (0.14–0.18 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela
🧭 Elevation: 0–2,000 m (0–6,560 ft)
🌸 Diet: Nectar and small arthropods
🏡 Habitat: Dry forest, scrub, mangroves, and forest edge
🧬 Clade: Trochilini (“Emeralds”)
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)

Subspecies & Distribution

Four subspecies:

1. Chrysuronia goudoti luminosa
   Distribution: Coastal lowlands of northern Colombia (from northern Chocó to Bolívar and Cesar)

2. Chrysuronia goudoti goudoti
   Distribution: Middle and upper Magdalena Valley, in central Colombia

3. Chrysuronia goudoti zuliae
   Distribution: Northern and western parts of Lake Maracaibo basin in extreme northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela (northern and northeastern Zulia)

4. Chrysuronia goudoti phaeochroa
   Distribution: Southern and eastern parts of Lake Maracaibo basin (southern Zulia and western Trujillo south to Táchira), in northwestern Venezuela

Species Overview

The Shining-green Hummingbird is a small but striking bird of dry forests and scrub habitats in northern South America. Males display brilliant green plumage with a golden shimmer in bright light. It’s common in open woodlands, mangroves, gardens, and forest edges, often heard before seen due to its high-pitched call notes.

Male Description:
Metallic emerald-green body with slightly bluish tones, darker tail with subtle bronzy tones, and a straight black bill. The underparts shine brightly, especially in sunlight.

Female Description:
Duller overall than males, with a pale grayish belly and faint green speckling on the throat and flanks.

Habitat & Behavior:
Common in lowland dry and semi-humid forests, scrubby areas, and agricultural zones. Visits flowering trees, shrubs, and epiphytes for nectar, and hawks insects on the wing. Frequently vocal, with a buzzy or squeaky call. Shows some territoriality around dense flower patches.

Conservation Note:
Listed as Least Concern, the Shining-green Hummingbird adapts well to disturbed and semi-open environments. While forest loss may impact localized populations, its wide ecological tolerance and presence in human-altered landscapes support stable numbers across its range.

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Below is the Shining-green Hummingbird (Chrysuronia goudoti zuliae)

Photographed in Camarones, La Guajira, Colombia

These individuals belong to the subspecies zuliae, which occurs in extreme northeastern Colombia and adjacent northwestern Venezuela, primarily around the northern and western margins of the Lake Maracaibo basin. It inhabits arid scrub, dry forest, and edge habitats, often near cactus and flowering shrubs. This subspecies is subtly paler than others, with a slightly grayer tone to the green underparts.

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