Orange-throated Sunangel
Heliangelus mavors
Medium-sized hummingbird with a short, straight bill found in the Andes of Venezuela and eastern Colombia. Male has a green body, buff and green spotted underparts, and a glittering orange throat. Female has a buffy throat spotted with green. Found in cloud forest, including edges, pastures with trees, and gardens. Territorial, mostly found singly or fighting with other individuals close to flowers. Similar to female Amethyst-throated Sunangel, which has a white chest band; also similar to female Tyrian Metaltail female, but the sunangel is larger with a differently colored tail.
Identification
The orange-throated sunangel is 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) long and weighs 3.9 to 4.4 g (0.14 to 0.16 oz). It has a straight blackish bill. Adult males have a shining green crown and back. A small area above the bill and the throat and upper breast are glittering coppery orange. A broad cinnamon-buff band separates the upper breast from the buff lower breast that is spotted golden green. The central tail feathers are golden green and the outer ones dark bronze with pale tips. Adult females are similar but their throat and upper breast are reddish brown with buff speckles. Immatures are similar to the adult female but young males have a dusky brown throat.
Taxonomy
The orange-throated sunangel is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Heliangelus mavors
- Authority
- Gould, 1848
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Genus
- Heliangelus
Range and habitat
The orange-throated sunangel is found from Venezuela's Lara state southwest into Colombia as far as Boyacá Department. It inhabits open landscapes such as the edges of humid cloudforest and elfin forest, pastures, and páramo. It is also found in dryer habitats. In elevation it ranges from 2,000 to 3,200 m (6,600 to 10,500 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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