White-bellied Emerald
White-bellied Emerald (Chlorestes candida)
Name Origin:
The genus Chlorestes is derived from Greek chloros, meaning “green,” and estes, meaning “eater,” likely referencing its vivid green coloration and nectar-feeding habits. The species epithet candida comes from Latin, meaning “white” or “bright,” referring to the bird’s clean white underparts.
Quick Facts
🪶 Length: 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~2.5–3.5 g (0.09–0.12 oz)
🌎 Range: From eastern Mexico south through Central America to northeastern Nicaragua
🧭 Elevation: 0–1,500 m (0–4,900 ft)
🌸 Diet: Primarily nectar, supplemented with small insects
🏡 Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forest edges, second growth, plantations, and gardens
🧬 Clade: Trochilini – Emeralds
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Three subspecies:
Chlorestes candida genini
Distribution: Eastern Mexico, from southeastern San Luis Potosí and Veracruz south to northern Oaxaca.Chlorestes candida pacifica
Distribution: Pacific slope in southeastern Mexico (southeastern Chiapas) and southern Guatemala.Chlorestes candida candida
Distribution: Southeastern Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula and northern Chiapas), northern Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and northeastern Nicaragua.
Species Overview
The White-bellied Emerald is a small, fast-flying hummingbird that inhabits the lowlands and foothills of eastern and southern Mexico through Central America. It’s easily identified by its glittering green upperparts, snowy white underparts, and relatively short, straight black bill.
Male Description:
Males display shimmering green upperparts and a bright white belly. The tail is dark with a slight blue gloss and rounded tips. The bill is black and straight, suited for feeding at small tubular flowers.
Female Description:
Females are similar but slightly duller, with less iridescence and more grayish flanks. The tail is slightly more notched and may show pale tips on the outer feathers.
Habitat & Behavior:
The White-bellied Emerald prefers forest edges, second growth, and gardens where flowering plants are abundant. It feeds actively on nectar, often visiting small flowers in quick circuits. Insects are also an important protein source, typically caught in midair. While not particularly aggressive, it may defend favored nectar sources when flowers are scarce.
Conservation Note:
This species remains widespread and is categorized as Least Concern. It adapts well to habitat fragmentation and human-altered landscapes, often appearing in cultivated areas and gardens. Its persistence in both primary and secondary forest helps ensure a stable population despite regional deforestation.
Below is the White-bellied Emerald (Chlorestes candida genini)
Photographed at Cerro Marín, Oaxaca, and Chavarrillo, Veracruz, Mexico.
These individuals belong to the subspecies genini, which is found in eastern Mexico, from southeastern San Luis Potosí and Veracruz south through northern Oaxaca. It typically inhabits tropical lowland and foothill forests, especially edges, plantations, and disturbed areas with dense flowering shrubs, from sea level to around 1,200 meters.
