Photo: Cephas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Purple-throated Mountaingem
Lampornis calolaemus
Purple-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis calolaemus) — Hummingbirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Purple-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis calolaemus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 5.1 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 Lampornis
- Species calolaemus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.1 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 Purple-throated Mountaingem 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 Purple-throated Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Purple-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis calolaemus) is a member of the Trochilidae family, within the order Apodiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA s Nicaragua to w Panama.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.1 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 3.6 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 11,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Purple-throated Mountaingem?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem is a very small bird that weighs around 5.1 g.
Where does the Purple-throated Mountaingem live?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA s Nicaragua to w Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Purple-throated Mountaingem belong to?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis calolaemus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Purple-throated Mountaingem eat?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Purple-throated Mountaingem migrate?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Purple-throated Mountaingem 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 Purple-throated Mountaingem's range?
The Purple-throated Mountaingem has a mapped global range of about 11,000 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.