Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-throated Starfrontlet
Coeligena helianthea
Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.6 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 Coeligena
- Species helianthea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.6 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet 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 Blue-throated Starfrontlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Colombia and w Venezuela.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.6 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 42,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-throated Starfrontlet?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet is a very small bird that weighs around 6.6 g.
Where does the Blue-throated Starfrontlet live?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Colombia and w Venezuela, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Blue-throated Starfrontlet belong to?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet (Coeligena helianthea) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Blue-throated Starfrontlet eat?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Blue-throated Starfrontlet migrate?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-throated Starfrontlet 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 Blue-throated Starfrontlet's range?
The Blue-throated Starfrontlet has a mapped global range of about 42,000 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.