Abeillia abeillei (R.Lesson & Delattre, 1839)

Species and Size

The emerald-chinned hummingbird (Abeillia abeillei) has a total length of 7 to 8.6 cm (2.8 to 3.4 in) and weighs approximately 2.7 to 3.5 g (0.095 to 0.12 oz). Both sexes of both recognized subspecies have a short, straight, dull black bill.

Nominate Male Upperparts

The nominate subspecies’ adult male has metallic bronze green to greenish bronze upperparts. Its central pair of tail feathers are bronze green, and the remaining tail feathers are black with a faint bluish or bronzy gloss; all tail feathers have brownish gray tips.

Nominate Male Head and Throat

The male has a distinct bold white spot behind the eye. Its chin and upper throat are brilliant metallic emerald green, while the lower throat is velvety black to dusky metallic bronze green.

Nominate Male Underparts

The rest of its underparts are deep brownish gray with some metallic bronze green gloss, which does not extend to the belly. The undertail coverts are metallic bronze green with wide brownish gray edges on each feather.

Nominate Female Plumage

Nominate subspecies females share the male’s upperpart coloration but do not have the male’s colored metallic throat; their entire underparts are pale gray, with scattered metallic green spots on the sides.

Subspecies Aurea Traits

Subspecies A. a. aurea is smaller than the nominate subspecies, and where nominate males have bronze green plumage, A. a. aurea has golden green plumage instead.

Nominate Subspecies Range

The nominate subspecies occurs in a discontinuous range starting from Veracruz in southern Mexico, extending through Guatemala into northern Honduras.

Subspecies Aurea Range

A. a. aurea occurs from southern Honduras into northern Nicaragua.

Habitat and Elevation

This species lives in the interior and along the edges of humid evergreen montane forest and pine-evergreen forest, and it can be found at elevations between 1,000 and 2,200 m (3,300 and 7,200 ft).