Photo: Dario Sanches from SÃO PAULO, BRASIL / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Amethyst Woodstar
Calliphlox amethystina
Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.8 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 Calliphlox
- Species amethystina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.8 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Amethyst Woodstar 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 Amethyst Woodstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA widespread.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 2.8 g, with a wing length of about 3.5 cm and a tail of around 2.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Amethyst Woodstar?
The Amethyst Woodstar is a very small bird that weighs around 2.8 g.
Where does the Amethyst Woodstar live?
The Amethyst Woodstar is found across South America with a range covering SA widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Amethyst Woodstar belong to?
The Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Amethyst Woodstar eat?
The Amethyst Woodstar is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Amethyst Woodstar migrate?
The Amethyst Woodstar is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Amethyst Woodstar endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Amethyst Woodstar's range?
The Amethyst Woodstar has a mapped global range of about 8 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
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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.