Blue-headed Sapphire
Chrysuronia grayi
Striking hummingbird with blue head, shimmering green body, and mostly red bill with black tip. Female duller, grayish below with green spotting on sides of throat. Distinctive in range. Very similar to Humboldt’s Sapphire, which is found at much lower elevations on the coast. Typically inhabits dry scrubby woodland and second growth in high elevation valleys, from 1,200–2,200 m.
Identification
The blue-headed sapphire is 9 to 11 cm (3.5 to 4.3 in) long. Males weigh 6.2 to 6.8 g (0.22 to 0.24 oz) and females 4.6 to 5.6 g (0.16 to 0.20 oz). Males have a straightish coral red bill with a black tip. Females' bills have a black maxilla with red at its base and a mostly pinkish mandible with a black tip. Adult males have a deep glittering blue upper throat, face, and crown. Their nape is dark blue-green and the rest of their upperparts metallic green. Their tail is dark steel blue. Their lower throat, breast, and upper belly are glittering emerald green with a small area of white on the lower belly. Their undertail coverts are metallic green with dark gray edges. Adult females have metallic green to bronze-green upperparts. Their tail's base is dark bronze-green and the rest blue-black with grayish tips on the outer feathers. Their underparts are mostly dull white to grayish white with bronze-green on the sides of the throat and breast and some green flecks on the lower throat. Juvenile males have a dull bluish green face and crown, a bronzy green throat and breast, and a grayish white belly. Juvenile females are similar but duller and more bronzy overall.
Taxonomy
The blue-headed sapphire was formerly placed in the genera Hylocharis and Amazilia. It was moved by most taxonomic systems to Chrysuronia based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014. However, BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) retains it in Amazilia. <p>The blue-headed sapphire is monotypic. However, at one time what is now Humboldt's sapphire (C. humboldtii) was treated as a subspecies of it.
- Scientific name
- Chrysuronia grayi
- Authority
- (Delattre & Bourcier, 1846)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Chrysuronia
Range and habitat
The blue-headed sapphire is found in inter-Andean valleys from western Colombia's Valle del Cauca Department south into Ecuador's Pichincha Province. It inhabits dry scrublands, the edges of woodland and taller forest, and cultivated areas. In elevation it mostly ranges between about 500 and 2,000 m (1,600 and 6,600 ft) but can be found as high as 2,600 m (8,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Campephilus pollens
Large woodpecker found in the subtropical and temperate zones in the Andes from extreme western Venezuela to Peru. Look for the white stripe that runs down the face and neck, a white ‘V’ on the back, and the cinnamon belly with dark barring. The male has a red crest. Found at higher elevations than any similar large woodpeckers – typically above 1,800m and all the way up to over 3,000m. Pairs wander widely throughout the forest, so they are infrequently encountered.
Fulvous Shrike-Tanager
Lanio fulvus
This tanager inhabits lowland and foothill rainforest and is almost always encountered with large mixed-species flocks. Male is burnt-orange with black hood and wings: somewhat reminiscent of an oriole. Female is drab, confusing, and rather variable, but she is usually darker tawny or ochraceous on the belly and rump compared to females of similar species; also note hooked bill. Quite vocal, often giving a repeated “cheer” and an abrupt rattle.
Ashambu Laughingthrush
Montecincla meridionalis
This is the only montane laughingthrush in its range and hence unmistakable. From forehead to nape it is pale brown with indistinct gray streaking. Short whitish eyebrow does not extend prominently behind the eye. Upperparts cold gray-brown, wings and tail browner; chin and breast whitish with broad gray streaking, central belly and vent white, flanks and sides of vent rufous-chestnut. Inhabits stunted montane and reed-bamboo forests; seen in pairs or noisy flocks, producing a melodious “pee-koo-pee-koo” song and several other chatters intermingled with musical notes. Heard more often than seen; its songs and calls are usually the first indication of its presence.
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