Green-throated mango

Anthracothorax viridigula

Photo by Michel Giraud-Audine (Flickr)

Common name:
green-throated mango (en); beija-flor-de-veste-verde (pt); mango à cravate verte (fr); mango gorgiverde (es); smaragdkehl-mangokolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is found in north-eastern South America, along the coastal areas from northern Venezuela, through the Guyanas and down to the mouth of the Amazon river, in Brazil. They are also found inland, along the Amazon river up to Manaus.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh around 9 g.

Habitat:
The green-throated mango is found in moist forests and savannas, mangroves, second growths, marshes, bogs and swamps, from sea level up to an altitude of 500 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of a variety of brightly coloured, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, scrubs and epiphytes. They also hunt small spiders and insects, especially during the breeding season, which may be taken from the vegetation of captured in flight.

Breeding:
Green-throated mangos nest in a deep cup, made of plant fibres woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage. The nest is lined with soft plant fibres, animal hair and feather down, and is placed in a low, thin horizontal branch, in a scrub or tree. The female lays 1-3 white eggs which she incubates alone for 15-16 days while the male defends the territory. The chicks are fed by the female and fledge 24-25 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon. This species is suspected to be declining locally owing to ongoing habitat loss, but it is not considered threatened at present.