Photo: Luciano Massa / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gilded Sapphire
Hylocharis chrysura
Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.5 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 Hylocharis
- Species chrysura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.5 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gilded Sapphire 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 Gilded Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Bolivia to se Brazil, Uruguay and n Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 3.1 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 3.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gilded Sapphire?
The Gilded Sapphire is a very small bird that weighs around 4.5 g.
Where does the Gilded Sapphire live?
The Gilded Sapphire is found across South America with a range covering SA Bolivia to se Brazil, Uruguay and n Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gilded Sapphire belong to?
The Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Gilded Sapphire eat?
The Gilded Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Gilded Sapphire migrate?
The Gilded Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gilded Sapphire 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 Gilded Sapphire make?
1 real field recording of the Gilded Sapphire — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gilded Sapphire's range?
The Gilded Sapphire has a mapped global range of about 3.1 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.
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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.