White-chinned Sapphire
White-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes cyanus)
Name Origin:
Chlorestes comes from Greek chloros meaning "green" and esthes meaning "garment," referring to its green plumage. The species name cyanus means "dark blue," pointing to its bluish-green iridescence.
Quick Facts
Length: 9–10 cm (3.5–3.9 in)
⚖️ Weight: ~3–4 g (0.11–0.14 oz)
🌎 Range: Northern and eastern South America
🛍️ Elevation: Sea level to ~1,000 m (3,280 ft)
🌺 Diet: Nectar, small insects, and spiders
🏡 Habitat: Forest edges, clearings, gardens, and secondary growth
🧬 Clade: Trochilini “Emeralds”
📊 Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2024)
Subspecies & Distribution
Five subspecies:
C. c. viridiventris
Distribution: N and E Colombia, W, S and E Venezuela, the Guianas, and N Brazil (south to Mato Grosso and east to Maranhão).C. c. rostrata
Distribution: E Peru, N Bolivia, and W Brazil south of the Amazon (east to the Madeira River); likely E Ecuador.C. c. conversa
Distribution: E Bolivia.C. c. cyanus
Distribution: Coastal eastern Brazil from Pernambuco south to Rio de Janeiro.C. c. griseiventris
Distribution: SE Brazil (São Paulo coast to N Paraná). Historical records also exist from NE Argentina (Buenos Aires).
Species Overview
The White-chinned Sapphire is a striking hummingbird known for its shimmering green plumage and small white tuft at the chin, more visible in some lighting. Common in lowland tropical habitats, it is active, fast-flying, and often vocal while feeding at flowers or hawking insects mid-air. Males are particularly aggressive at feeders or flowering trees.
Male Description:
Males have metallic green upperparts and underparts with a subtle bluish wash. The chin spot is small and white but may be hard to detect in the field. The tail is forked and dark bluish-black, often spread in display. The bill is mostly red with a dark tip.
Female Description:
Females are less iridescent, with grayish underparts and green upperparts. The white chin is often more obvious. The bill is straighter than in males, with a red base and black tip. They show more subdued behavior but are equally active foragers.
Habitat & Behavior:
This species favors edges of humid forests, gardens, and secondary growth. It feeds on nectar at low to mid-level flowers and supplements with small insects caught in flight. It often perches openly and vocalizes with sharp, high-pitched calls.
Conservation Note:
Widespread and adaptable, the White-chinned Sapphire is not currently at risk. It persists in both pristine and human-altered habitats but may be vulnerable to ongoing deforestation in parts of its range.
Below are individuals of the White-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes cyanus griseiventris)
Photographed at:
Eldorado – Recanto Gavião-de-penacho, Eldorado, São Paulo, Brazil
Eldorado – Duco Lodge, Eldorado County, São Paulo, Brazil
These individuals belong to the subspecies griseiventris, found in southeastern Brazil. This form is distinguished by slightly grayer underparts compared to other subspecies, and it typically inhabits coastal forest fragments, gardens, and lowland secondary growth. Males show rich green upperparts and a faint white chin spot, with a red-based bill.
Below are individuals of the White-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes cyanus rostrata)
Photographed at:
Waqanki/Quebrada Mishquiyaquillo, San Martín, Peru
This bird belongs to the rostrata subspecies, found throughout eastern Peru and adjacent western Amazonia. It occurs in tropical humid forest edges and open areas, frequently visiting flowering shrubs in disturbed habitats. Males exhibit deeper blue-green tones and a bolder red base to the bill. The chin spot is often less visible in this population.
