White-chested Emerald
Encyclopedia
The White-chested Emerald, Amazilia brevirostris, is a hummingbird
found in eastern Venezuela
, the Guianas
, Trinidad
and far northern Brazil
(Roraima
). It has sometimes been placed in the genus Agyrtria, and the name A. chionopectus was formerly used for this species, as the name A. brevirostris was believed to be applicable to the Versicolored Emerald. While most current authorities maintain the view that A. brevirostris is the correct name for the White-chested Emerald, it has recently been suggested that this is incorrect, in which case its scientific name would revert to A. chionopectus.
It is a widespread and common species in Trinidad, less so in Venezuela. It appears to be a local or seasonal migrant
, although its movements are not well understood. It is a bird
of cultivation, woodland and forest. The female lays her eggs in a small cup nest made of plant fibre and placed on a horizontal tree branch.
The White-chested Emerald is approximately 9 cm long and weighs 4.7 g. The black bill is straight and fairly long, at nearly 2 cm. It has bright golden-green upperparts, becoming bronze on the tail, white underparts, and its flanks are green, or white spotted with green. The tail is tipped with purple-black. The sexes are similar.
White-chested Emeralds feed on nectar, usually taken from the flowers of large trees, but sometimes from smaller plants such as Heliconia
. They also take small insect
s. The song of this species is a churring tche-tche-tche-tche-tche.
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
found in eastern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the Guianas
The Guianas
The Guyanas or the Guianas refers to a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories:* French Guiana, an overseas department of France;...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and far northern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(Roraima
Roraima
Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is 400,000 and the capital is Boa Vista...
). It has sometimes been placed in the genus Agyrtria, and the name A. chionopectus was formerly used for this species, as the name A. brevirostris was believed to be applicable to the Versicolored Emerald. While most current authorities maintain the view that A. brevirostris is the correct name for the White-chested Emerald, it has recently been suggested that this is incorrect, in which case its scientific name would revert to A. chionopectus.
It is a widespread and common species in Trinidad, less so in Venezuela. It appears to be a local or seasonal migrant
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, although its movements are not well understood. It is a bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
of cultivation, woodland and forest. The female lays her eggs in a small cup nest made of plant fibre and placed on a horizontal tree branch.
The White-chested Emerald is approximately 9 cm long and weighs 4.7 g. The black bill is straight and fairly long, at nearly 2 cm. It has bright golden-green upperparts, becoming bronze on the tail, white underparts, and its flanks are green, or white spotted with green. The tail is tipped with purple-black. The sexes are similar.
White-chested Emeralds feed on nectar, usually taken from the flowers of large trees, but sometimes from smaller plants such as Heliconia
Heliconia
Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
. They also take small insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. The song of this species is a churring tche-tche-tche-tche-tche.
External links
- White-chested Emerald videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Stamps (for Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
) with RangeMap - White-chested Emerald photo gallery VIREO Photo-High Res