Photo: Michael Woodruff from Spokane, Washington, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-bellied Mountaingem
Lampornis hemileucus
White-bellied Mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus) — 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 White-bellied Mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus) is a member of the Trochilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 5.5 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 Lampornis
- Species hemileucus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.5 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 White-bellied 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 White-bellied Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-bellied Mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus) belongs to the Trochilidae family of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA Costa Rica and Panama.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 9,355 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-bellied Mountaingem?
The White-bellied Mountaingem is a very small bird that weighs around 5.5 g.
Where does the White-bellied Mountaingem live?
The White-bellied Mountaingem is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA Costa Rica and Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-bellied Mountaingem belong to?
The White-bellied Mountaingem (Lampornis hemileucus) belongs to the Trochilidae family, in the order Apodiformes.
What does the White-bellied Mountaingem eat?
The White-bellied Mountaingem is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the White-bellied Mountaingem migrate?
The White-bellied Mountaingem is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-bellied 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.
What sound does the White-bellied Mountaingem make?
1 real field recording of the White-bellied Mountaingem — 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 White-bellied Mountaingem's range?
The White-bellied Mountaingem has a mapped global range of about 9,355 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.