Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii Scientific name definitions

The Green-breasted Mango is a polytypic species with four subspecies currently recognized that are distributed from eastern Mexico south to northwestern Panama, on a few islands in the western Caribbean, and in northeastern Colombia and northern Venezuela.

It is a large, robust hummingbird with a stout, slightly curved bill. The male is primarily deep green with a purple tail. The female and immature are green above and have whitish median underparts with a dark central stripe. The older adult female may look more like the adult male. The sex of completely black and green individuals may be established, with caution, by reviewing the tail pattern and shape (see Plumages, Molts, and Structure).

The Green-breasted Mango is relatively common and widespread in most of Central America. It is more common in Providencia, San Andrés, and Santa Catalina islands. The southern populations often are local and uncommon or rare. As is typical of mangos, the Green-breasted Mango primarily occurs in open lowland habitats with broadleaf trees, including mangroves, forest edges, and urban areas. Male mangos sing from high perches, repeating a twangy song three or four times in a row. When feeding on insects or nectar, these mangos frequently fan out their tails. The Green-breasted Mango is very similar to the Veraguan Mango (Anthracothorax veraguensis) and Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis).

Until recently, the subspecies iridescens, included within the Black-throated Mango, was part of the Green-breasted Mango. This form perhaps merits recognition as a separate species. Its systematics remains vexing. In general, much remains to be learned about the Green-breasted Mango (see Priorities for Future Research).