Zafiro Gorgiazul
Blue-chinned Sapphire
Chlorestes notata
Song
Blue-chinned Sapphire
Appearance: The Blue-chinned Sapphire is a small hummingbird, about 8–9 cm long. The male is mostly shining green, with a dark bluish or violet-blue chin and throat, a small pale spot behind the eye, and a slightly forked dark blue tail. The bill is mostly red or reddish with a dark tip. The female is duller, green above and grayish-white below, with less blue on the throat and a darker tail.
Habitat: It lives mainly in humid lowland forest, especially forest edges, river edges, gallery forest, clearings with scattered trees, secondary growth, gardens, plantations, and shrubby areas. It is often found near water or in damp forest-edge habitats. In Colombia it is mostly a lowland species, usually below 400 m.
Behavior: It feeds mainly on nectar from flowering shrubs, trees, and epiphytes, and also catches tiny insects and spiders. It often forages in the lower and middle levels of vegetation, but it may also visit canopy flowers.
Breeding: Breeding information is limited. Like other hummingbirds, the female builds a small cup-shaped nest using soft plant fibers, lichens, and spiderweb. She lays two white eggs and raises the young alone.
Conservation Status: The Blue-chinned Sapphire is listed as Least Concern.
MALE
FEMALE
Distribution
Amazon Region: Present in Amazonian lowlands, especially humid forest, forest edges, river-edge vegetation, clearings with trees, and wooded areas.
Eastern Colombia: Found in lowland forest and gallery forest habitats, especially where there are flowering trees and shrubs.
Taxonomy
The Blue-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes notata)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Caprimulgiformes
- Family: Trochilidae
- Genus: Chlorestes
- Species: notata
Vocalization
Song: A high, metallic, repeated phrase, often described as “tsee-tsee-tsee” or “tsit-tsit-tsit.” Some recordings are labeled as possible song or advertising calls.
Feeding Calls: It may give tiny high chips while visiting flowers or hovering in forest gaps and edges.
Territorial Calls: During disputes around nectar sources, it may give quick, squeaky, repeated chips.
