Green-throated Mango
Encyclopedia
The Green-throated Mango (Anthracothorax viridigula) is a hummingbird
that breeds from northeastern Venezuela
, Trinidad
and the Guianas
south to northeasterm Brazil
. In Brazil, the bird is only found on the narrow Atlantic
coastal strip north and south of the Amazon River
outlet, and a strip along the river proper, about 1500km upstream. It is a local or seasonal migrant
, although its movements are not well understood.
inhabits mangrove
swamp and moist lowland savannah. It is 10.2cm long and weighs 9g. The longish black bill is slightly decurved.
The male has glossy bright green upperparts with a copper tinge, especially on the rump. His throat and underparts are green with a black central line on the breast and belly. The tail has dark central feathers, the outer tail being wine-red tipped with black.
The female Green -throated Mango has more bronze on the upperparts and flanks. She has white underparts with a black central stripe. The tail has dark central feathers, the outer tail being wine-red tipped with white. Immature males resemble females but have chestnut sides.
This species is very similar to the closely related Black-throated Mango
. Although the male Green-throated Mango has less extensive black on the underparts, this and other plumage differences are not always easy to confirm in the field because the birds appear all-black. The females of the two species can be almost inseparable, although Green-throated has more extensively coppery upperparts than its relative.
The female Green -throated Mango lays two white eggs in a deep cup nest on a high, thin, and usually bare branch.
The food of this species is nectar, often taken from the flowers of large trees. This hummingbird is also notably insectivorous, often hovering in open areas to catch flying insect
s. The call of the Green -throated Mango is a staccato stony click.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
that breeds from northeastern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and the Guianas
The Guianas
The Guyanas or the Guianas refers to a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories:* French Guiana, an overseas department of France;...
south to northeasterm Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. In Brazil, the bird is only found on the narrow Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coastal strip north and south of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
outlet, and a strip along the river proper, about 1500km upstream. It is a local or seasonal migrant
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, although its movements are not well understood.
Overview
This small birdBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
inhabits mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamp and moist lowland savannah. It is 10.2cm long and weighs 9g. The longish black bill is slightly decurved.
The male has glossy bright green upperparts with a copper tinge, especially on the rump. His throat and underparts are green with a black central line on the breast and belly. The tail has dark central feathers, the outer tail being wine-red tipped with black.
The female Green -throated Mango has more bronze on the upperparts and flanks. She has white underparts with a black central stripe. The tail has dark central feathers, the outer tail being wine-red tipped with white. Immature males resemble females but have chestnut sides.
This species is very similar to the closely related Black-throated Mango
Black-throated Mango
The Black-throated Mango is a mainly South American hummingbird species.-Description:It is 10.2 cm long and weighs 7.2g. The longish black bill is slightly decurved. The tail in both sexes has dark central feathers, the outer tail being wine-red tipped with black.The male has glossy bright...
. Although the male Green-throated Mango has less extensive black on the underparts, this and other plumage differences are not always easy to confirm in the field because the birds appear all-black. The females of the two species can be almost inseparable, although Green-throated has more extensively coppery upperparts than its relative.
The female Green -throated Mango lays two white eggs in a deep cup nest on a high, thin, and usually bare branch.
The food of this species is nectar, often taken from the flowers of large trees. This hummingbird is also notably insectivorous, often hovering in open areas to catch flying insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. The call of the Green -throated Mango is a staccato stony click.
External links
- Stamps (for SurinameSurinameSuriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
) with RangeMap - Green-throated Mango photo gallery VIREO Photo-High Res