White-throated Mountain Gem Hummingbirds
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The White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris) is a hummingbird which breeds in the mountains of western Panama. It is replaced in southern Costa Rica by a distinct subspecies, the Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, L. cinereicauda, which is very close to becoming a distinct species (García-Moreno et al., 2006). Another very close relative, the Purple-throated Mountain-gem, is found sympatrically (in the same geographic region).
Description
This bird is 10.5 cm long. The shortish black bill is slightly curved.
The adult male has bronze-green upperparts and underparts except for a brilliant green crown, white throat and blue tail.
The female lacks the bright crown and throat, and has rich cinnamon underparts.
Juveniles / young birds resemble the female but have buff fringes to the upperparts plumage.
Breeding / Nesting
The female White-throated Mountain-gem is entirely responsible for nest building and incubation. She lays two white eggs in a deep plant-fibre cup nest m high in a scrub, small tree or vine. Incubation takes 15-19 days, and fledging another 20-26.
Diet / Feeding
The food of this species is nectar, taken from a variety of small flowers, including epiphytic Ericaceae. Like other hummingbirds it also takes small insects as an essential source of protein. Male White-throated Mountain-gems defend flowers and scrubs in their feeding territories, and are dominant over most other hummingbirds.
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