Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Chrysuronia oenone
Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Chrysuronia
- Species oenone
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA n SA and w Amazonia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 3.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Golden-tailed Sapphire?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is a very small bird that weighs around 5 g.
Where does the Golden-tailed Sapphire live?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is found across South America with a range covering SA n SA and w Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Golden-tailed Sapphire belong to?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Golden-tailed Sapphire eat?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Golden-tailed Sapphire migrate?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Golden-tailed Sapphire endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Golden-tailed Sapphire make?
1 real field recording of the Golden-tailed Sapphire — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Golden-tailed Sapphire's range?
The Golden-tailed Sapphire has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Hummingbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Hummingbird Feeders
How to choose a hummingbird feeder — the two main styles compared, the right sugar-water mix, and how to keep it clean so the birds stay safe. A decision framework with the hummingbird species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.