Blue-chinned Sapphire

Common name: Blue-chinned Sapphire
Scientific name: Chlorestes notata
Clades: Trochilini - Emeralds

The Blue-chinned sapphire is 8.9 cm long and weighs 3.8 g.

The Blue-chinned Sapphire has a mostly green body and a solid blue tail. In bright light, note the reddish bill base and the strong bluish sheen on the throat and breast of males. A female can be identified by extensive green spotting below. The species can be found in a wide range of habitats, such as river edges, abandoned plantations, second growth, and patches of savanna woodlands. In addition to feeding on nectar, this bird defends flower patches from other hummingbirds. The male is similar to the male Blue-tailed Emerald, except for its size, lack of a forked tail, and blueish tone. The female is similar to the Glittering-throated Emerald but has uniform spots on its breast.

3 subspecies:

1. C. n. notata
   Distribution NE Colombia through N and E Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Guianas to E Brazil (Pará to Bahia, and uncommonly S to Rio de Janeiro).

2. C. n. puruensis
   Distribution NW Brazil (N of Amazon, E to mouths of R Trombetas and R Negro) to SE Colombia, E Ecuador and NE Peru (upper R Ucayali).

3. C. n. obsoleta
   Distribution NE Peru on lower R Ucayali near the mouth of R Napo, and W probably to the mouth of R Huallaga.