Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-throated Sapphire
Hylocharis sapphirina
Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina) — Hummingbirds of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.4 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apodiformes
- Family Trochilidae Hummingbirds
- Genus Hylocharis
- Species sapphirina
Where it lives
Amazonia, southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.4 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Trochilidae
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the tiny disco knight
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-throated 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 Rufous-throated Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina) is a species of bird in the Trochilidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia, se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 4.4 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 3 cm.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-throated Sapphire?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire is a very small bird that weighs around 4.4 g.
Where does the Rufous-throated Sapphire live?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, se Brazil, e Paraguay and ne Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-throated Sapphire belong to?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the Rufous-throated Sapphire eat?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Rufous-throated Sapphire migrate?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Rufous-throated Sapphire make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-throated Sapphire — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-throated Sapphire's range?
The Rufous-throated Sapphire has a mapped global range of about 3.9 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.
Explore more birds
More in Trochilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
More in Hummingbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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.