Humboldt’s Sapphire
Chrysuronia humboldtii
Humboldt's Sapphire (Chrysuronia humboldtii) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Humboldt’s Sapphire (Chrysuronia humboldtii) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 5.6 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Chrysuronia
- Species humboldtii
Where it lives
Southeastern Panama to northwestern Ecuador
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.6 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 Humboldt’s Sapphire 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 Humboldt’s Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Humboldt’s Sapphire (Chrysuronia humboldtii) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Panama to nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 3.5 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Humboldt’s Sapphire?
The Humboldt’s Sapphire is a very small bird that weighs around 5.6 g.
Where does the Humboldt’s Sapphire live?
The Humboldt’s Sapphire is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Panama to nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Humboldt’s Sapphire belong to?
The Humboldt’s Sapphire (Chrysuronia humboldtii) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Humboldt’s Sapphire eat?
The Humboldt’s Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Humboldt’s Sapphire migrate?
The Humboldt’s Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Humboldt’s Sapphire make?
1 real field recording of the Humboldt’s Sapphire — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
More in Hummingbirds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
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.