Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Heliangelus amethysticollis
Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) 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 Heliangelus
- Species amethysticollis
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
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Ecuador to nw Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 4.2 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 146,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Amethyst-throated Sunangel?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is a very small bird that weighs around 5 g.
Where does the Amethyst-throated Sunangel live?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is found across South America with a range covering SA s Ecuador to nw Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Amethyst-throated Sunangel belong to?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Amethyst-throated Sunangel eat?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Amethyst-throated Sunangel migrate?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Amethyst-throated Sunangel 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 Amethyst-throated Sunangel make?
1 real field recording of the Amethyst-throated Sunangel — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Amethyst-throated Sunangel's range?
The Amethyst-throated Sunangel has a mapped global range of about 146,000 km².
Conservation
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.
Meet the Trochilidae
A field guide to the Trochilidae family — 366 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.