Green-throated Mango Anthracothorax viridigula Scientific name definitions

These high-flying hummers are rather insectivorous and catch bugs by hovering in the air. They also form feeding territories in the tops of flowering trees. The Green-throated Mango prefers coastal areas including mangroves, swamp forests, and semi-wooded zones. Unfortunately, the Trinidad population is now rare because of the loss of mangrove and swamp habitat. The male’s entirely green throat distinguishes it from others in the genus, and the female displays a slight reddish tinge on the upperparts. Their cup nests are exposed on a horizontal branch and are caked with lichen, at least in Suriname.

10·5–12·5 cm; male 7·5–8·5 g, female 6·0 g; records of 11 g for female are possibly of egg-laying individuals. Male has slightly decurved black bill  ; upperparts shining bronzy-green; throat glittering green, centre of breast and belly velvet black, sides green to bronzy-green, thighs and lower sides of body white; central tail feathers dark brown to green, with others shiny purple, outermost  ones tipped dark blue. Female bill like male; upperparts similar to male; underparts mostly white with velvet black stripe from chin to belly; tail similar to male’s but tipped white. Juvenile  similar to female but sides of chin and underparts chestnut  .

Trinidad, NE Venezuela and the Guianas to N Brazil (R Negro E through Amapá to N Maranhão).

Nectar  of flowering native and introduced trees, e.g. Erythrina, Caesalpinia, Tabebuia, Cordia, Spathodea. Insects such as Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera and Coleoptera are caught in the air or picked from plant surface. Male establishes feeding territories in flowering trees.

Rather silent. Song apparently undescribed. Call in flight, when hovering at flowers, a repeated “chep...chep...”.

Nests found year-round but chiefly Jan–Mar (Guianas). Small cup-shaped nest built on horizontal branch in large tree, normally above 10 m; nest height 30 mm, external diameter 45 mm, internal diameter 35 mm (2 Grantsau, R. (1988). Os Beija-flores do Brasil. Expressão e Cultura, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Close ). Clutch size two eggs, size 16·5 mm × 9·5 mm, mass 0·71 g (2 Grantsau, R. (1988). Os Beija-flores do Brasil. Expressão e Cultura, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Close ); incubation  14–15 days (2 Grantsau, R. (1988). Os Beija-flores do Brasil. Expressão e Cultura, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Close ), by female; chick black with sparse, dark grey dorsal down; fledging period 24–25 days; young  remain with adult female for 3–4 weeks. First breeding in second year.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Locally common, particularly in mangrove swamps and marshy coastal areas; less numerous inland. Has become a rather rare resident on Trinidad due to the loss of mangrove and swamp since the early 1980s; present at Caroni Swamp. Regularly recorded at Cayenne and Mana (French Guiana).