Green-throated Mountain-gem

Guatemala

Jul 17

Common name: Green-throated Mountain-gem
Scientific name: Lampornis viridipallens
Clades: Lampornithini - Mountain-gems

The Green-Throated Mountain-gem is a stunning hummingbird species found in the highland forests of Central America, particularly in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. This vibrant bird, fairly large in size, measures around 11–12 cm and weighs approximately 5.4 grams. The male features a straight black bill and green upperparts with a bronzy tint on the rump. It has a white postocular stripe, darkish ear-coverts, and bluish-black uppertail-coverts. The throat is white with bluish-green iridescent discs, the breast is white, and the rest of the underparts are greyish with mottled green on the sides and flanks. The undertail-coverts are dusky grey, and the tail is slightly forked with central rectrices in black and the remainder in pale grey. The female is similar to the male, but her upperparts are generally emerald-green and her throat is white. Juveniles resemble adult females but have a pale buffy throat. The amadoni subspecies is darker with less bronzy on the rump and black central rectrices. The ovandensis subspecies has fewer green areas on the sides of the breast and flanks, while the nubivagus subspecies has dark green upperparts and an intensely bronze rump.

4 subspecies:

L. V. amadoni
Distribution Sierra Atravesada (SE Oaxaca), in S Mexico.
L. V. ovandensis
Distribution highlands of SE Mexico (Chiapas) and NW Guatemala.
L. V. viridipallens
Distribution highlands of E Guatemala, extreme N El Salvador and W Honduras.
L. V. nubivagus
Distribution El Salvador (Santa Ana Volcano).