Bird of the day
White-chested emerald
Amazilia brevirostris
The white-chested emerald (Chrysuronia brevirostris) is a hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Brazil, the Guianas, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
The white-chested emerald is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long. Males weigh about 4.6 g (0.16 oz) and females 4.4 g (0.16 oz). Adults of both sexes of all subspecies have a short, straight, blackish bill and the sexes are almost alike in plumage. The nominate subspecies has iridescent turquoise-green crown and cheeks and shining bronze-green upperparts that become coppery on the rump. Its central tail feathers are coppery and the outer ones bronze to copperish with blackish bars near the end of their underside. Its underside from throat to belly is white with bronze-green sides and flanks. Its undertail coverts are golden-green with white edges. The female differs from the male only by having grayish tips on the outer tail feathers. Juveniles resemble adult females with a yellowish to reddish base on their mandible.
Subspecies C. b. chionopectus is significantly larger than the other two subspecies but has the same plumage as the nominate. C. b. orienticola is similar to the nominate but has darker, more bronze colored, upperparts and flanks.
Aliases
White-chested Emerald, White-chested emerald