Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Glow-throated Hummingbird
Selasphorus ardens
Glow-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
The Glow-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 3.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Selasphorus
- Species ardens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.1 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Glow-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA wc Panama.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 3.1 g, with a wing length of about 4 cm and a tail of around 2.7 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1,490 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Glow-throated Hummingbird?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is a very small bird that weighs around 3.1 g.
Where does the Glow-throated Hummingbird live?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA wc Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Glow-throated Hummingbird belong to?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird (Selasphorus ardens) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Glow-throated Hummingbird eat?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Glow-throated Hummingbird migrate?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Glow-throated Hummingbird endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Glow-throated Hummingbird's range?
The Glow-throated Hummingbird has a mapped global range of about 1,490 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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Least Concern
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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.