Anthracothorax dominicus aurulentus (Audebert & Vieillot, 1801)

Taxon Identification

This is a description of the subspecies Anthracothorax dominicus aurulentus, the Hispaniolan mango.

Body Length

Hispaniolan mangoes measure 11.5 to 13.5 cm (4.5 to 5.3 in) in length.

Weight

Males weigh 6.0 to 8.2 g (0.21 to 0.29 oz), while females weigh 4.0 to 7.0 g (0.14 to 0.25 oz).

Adult Male Upperparts

Adult males have shiny bronze-green upperparts.

Adult Male Underparts

Their chin and throat are metallic green, and the rest of their underparts are velvety black with a bluish tinge.

Adult Male Tail

Their tail is mostly violet; the inner webs of the tail feathers are coppery, and the feather tips are blue-black.

Adult Female Upperparts

Females also have shiny bronze-green upperparts.

Adult Female Underparts

Their underparts are grayish, lightening to pale white on the abdomen.

Adult Female Tail

The female tail is reddish violet with broad black marks near the end; the outermost tail feathers have white tips.

Juvenile Appearance

Juvenile Hispaniolan mangoes are thought to resemble females, but have a black line running down the center of the underparts.

Distribution

The Hispaniolan mango is distributed across Hispaniola and several of its small offshore islands.

Habitat

It lives in a range of both moist and dry landscapes, including clearings, gardens, shade coffee plantations, secondary forest, and coastal shrublands.

Elevation Range

It most commonly occurs below 1,500 m (4,900 ft), but can be found rarely at elevations as high as 2,600 m (8,500 ft).