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Blue-headed Sapphire

Chrysuronia grayi

Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) — Hummingbirds of South America.

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The Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 5.6 g.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Apodiformes
  3. Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
  4. Genus Chrysuronia
  5. Species grayi

Where it lives

Western Colombia and northern Ecuador

Quick facts

Weight
5.6 g
Family
Trochilidae
Order
Apodiformes
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Blue-headed Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Blue-headed Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w Colombia and n Ecuador.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 3.3 cm.

Songs & calls

Blue-headed Sapphire — Alarm call

Recorded by José María Loaiza B. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Blue-headed Sapphire?

The Blue-headed Sapphire is a very small bird that weighs around 5.6 g.

Where does the Blue-headed Sapphire live?

The Blue-headed Sapphire is found across South America with a range covering SA w Colombia and n Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Blue-headed Sapphire belong to?

The Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Blue-headed Sapphire eat?

The Blue-headed Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Does the Blue-headed Sapphire migrate?

The Blue-headed Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

What sound does the Blue-headed Sapphire make?

1 real field recording of the Blue-headed Sapphire — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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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.

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Meet the Trochilidae

A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.

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