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Blue-chested Hummingbird

Polyerata amabilis

Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.

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The Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 4.3 g.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Apodiformes
  3. Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
  4. Genus Polyerata
  5. Species amabilis

Where it lives

Nicaragua to southern Ecuador

Quick facts

Weight
4.3 g
Family
Trochilidae
Order
Apodiformes
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Behaviour

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

Migration

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

The Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Nicaragua to s Ecuador.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 2.9 cm.

Songs & calls

Blue-chested Hummingbird — Song, lekking

Recorded by Juan Freile Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Blue-chested Hummingbird?

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 4.3 g.

Where does the Blue-chested Hummingbird live?

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Nicaragua to s Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Blue-chested Hummingbird belong to?

The Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Blue-chested Hummingbird eat?

The Blue-chested Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Does the Blue-chested Hummingbird migrate?

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

What sound does the Blue-chested Hummingbird make?

1 real field recording of the Blue-chested Hummingbird — including its song — 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.

4 min read

Meet the Trochilidae

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

1 min read

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