What is the name of the blue green hummingbird?

The blue-green hummingbird is a species of hummingbird found in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. It gets its name from the iridescent turquoise and emerald plumage of the male birds. The scientific name of this hummingbird species is Chlorostilbon mellisugus. It belongs to the family Trochilidae and the order Apodiformes. The blue-green hummingbird is a small bird, measuring only about 10 centimeters in length and weighing around 3-4 grams on average. Despite its tiny size, it is known for its aggressive territorial behavior and elaborate courtship displays. The blue-green hummingbird can hover in place by rapidly flapping its wings up to 70 times per second and is able to fly forwards, backwards, and upside down with great agility. It has a long thin bill adapted for drinking nectar from flowers and an extendable tongue which allows it to reach deep into blooms. The blue-green hummingbird plays an important role as a pollinator for many plant species across its habitat range. Next, we’ll take a closer look at the physical characteristics and behavior of this colorful hummingbird.

Physical Characteristics

As mentioned, the most striking feature of the male blue-green hummingbird is its vibrant iridescent plumage. The head, throat, back, and tail feathers display a range of shining turquoise, teal, emerald green, and sapphire hues. This is caused by the structure of the feathers, which have minuscule air pockets and melanin granules that refract light to produce this iridescent effect. Depending on the angle, the colors can appear to shift between different shades of blue and green. Females lack much of the flashy plumage of the males and instead have white underparts and greenish-bronze upperparts, which provides camouflage when incubating eggs. Both sexes have a straight black bill about 2 centimeters long adapted for feeding on nectar. Their tongue is about 5 centimeters long and is forked at the tip, allowing it to dip in and out of flowers. Blue-green hummingbirds have very short legs with feet that are only about 1 centimeter long. However, their feet are strong enough to perch on branches and wires. The wings of the blue-green hummingbird are long and narrow, ideal for hovering and sustained flight. The tail is also fairly long compared to the body. Despite its tiny stature, the blue-green hummingbird has a bold spirit and vigorous energy.

Behavior and Habits

One of the most interesting behaviors of the blue-green hummingbird is its elaborate courtship display. When trying to attract a female, the male will fly in dramatic loops, dives, and climbs high into the air, all while making a loud high-pitched twittering sound with his wings and tail. He may also puff up his iridescent throat feathers during this aerial show. Once paired, the female blue-green hummingbird will build a tiny delicate nest out of plant down, spider webs, and lichens on a tree branch or pole. She lays two pea-sized white eggs and incubates them alone for about 15 days. The chicks are born helpless, with closed eyes and no feathers. They are carefully fed by the female with regurgitated nectar and insects and will fledge in about 3 weeks. Outside of breeding, blue-green hummingbirds are highly territorial. They will aggressively chase other hummingbirds away from nectar-rich flowers and their preferred feeding areas. They have blazing speed and maneuverability in flight, allowing them to outcompete many intruders. However, they may grudgingly allow other small hummingbird species to share territory. Blue-green hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from nectar, visiting a variety of bright tubular flowers such as Salvias, Castilleja, and agaves. They will also hawk small insects such as gnats, aphids, and spiders to obtain protein, catching them in midair or gleaning them from leaves and branches. A fascinating behavior they exhibit is “trap-lining”, in which an individual will repeatedly visit favorite flower patches in a set route or circuit throughout the day. The blue-green hummingbird’s high metabolic rate and extreme energy demands mean it must feed frequently, visiting hundreds or even thousands of flowers per day. This makes it a very important pollinator for the ecosystems it inhabits.

Habitat and Range

The blue-green hummingbird resides in a range of habitats across Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. Its preferred homes are tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, thickets, and scrublands. It is commonly found in the understory and forest edges where flowering vines, shrubs, and trees flourish. Some key plants it utilizes for food in its habitat include species in the Rubiaceae, Malvaceae, and Myrtaceae families. The blue-green hummingbird can be found at elevations up to around 5500 feet in the Andes. It occurs in both wet and dry forests. In drier regions of its range, it stays near streams and rivers where vegetation persists through the dry months. This range covers eastern and southern Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and into Colombia and Venezuela. The worldwide population is estimated at somewhere between 50,000-500,000 mature individuals. Due to its broad range and stable numbers, the blue-green hummingbird is evaluated as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, habitat loss in some areas from deforestation poses an ongoing threat.

Key Facts

Conclusion

With its dazzling iridescent plumage and energetic flight, the blue-green hummingbird is a jewel of Central and South American forests and woodlands. Despite its tiny size, it plays a vital role as a pollinator for many native plants. Next time you are exploring tropical latitudes, listen for the high-pitched twittering of a male blue-green hummingbird and look for a flash of turquoise through the trees. With a little luck, you may witness firsthand the beauty of this hummingbird species in action. Though small, the blue-green hummingbird has an outsized impact on its ecosystem. Its continued survival is important both ecologically and for our enjoyment of nature’s wonders.