Family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Least Concern
White-bellied Mountain-gem (Lampornis hemileucus)
Taxonomy
French: Colibri à gorge lilas German: Veilchenkehlnymphe Spanish: Colibrí gorjivioleta
Taxonomy:
Oreopyra hemileuca
Salvin
, 1865,Turrialba, Costa Rica
.Distribution:
Highlands on Caribbean slope from NC Costa Rica to W Panama (Veraguas); also occurs locally on Pacific slope of Panama.
Descriptive notes
10–11 cm; male 6·2 g, female 5·1 g. Bill black, feet dark flesh-coloured. Adult male has crown and face glittering green, postocular stripe white, rest of... read more
Voice
Song a medley of squeaks, dry or liquid trills, and sputtering notes. Calls include a repeated,... read more
Habitat
Canopy and edge of cool, very wet subtropical forest, descending to shrub level along borders, gaps... read more
Food and feeding
Visits flowers of trees (Calliandra, Clusia, Inga) and shrubs (Acanthaceae, Besleria, Cephaelis... read more
Breeding
Aug or Sept–Mar in Costa Rica. Breeding male often advertises flower-centred territories by complex, warbling song. Nest undescribed. read more
Movements
Following breeding, at least part of population descends to lower elevations, regularly to 400... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. CITES II. Restricted-range species: present in Costa Rica and Panama Highlands EBA. Locally very common. Large areas of its wet subtropical forest... read more
Phylogenetic study of Lampornis suggested that this species does not belong in this genus#R. Monotypic.