Lampornis viridipallens (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1846)

Scientific Nomenclature and Basic Measurements

The green-throated mountaingem, scientifically named Lampornis viridipallens (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1846), is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs about 5.4 g (0.19 oz). Both sexes of all recognized subspecies share a straight black bill, a white stripe behind the eye that sits above a dark cheek, and a slightly forked tail.

Nominate Male Upperparts

Adult males of the nominate subspecies (L. v. viridipallens) have green upperparts with a bronzy rump and bluish black uppertail coverts. Their central tail feathers are black, while the rest are pale gray.

Nominate Male Underparts

Their throat is white with bluish green spots, their breast is white, their belly is grayish with green spots on the sides and flanks, and their undertail coverts are dusky gray.

Adult Female Plumage

Adult females have emerald green upperparts and an unspotted white throat, but match males in all other traits.

Juvenile Plumage

Juveniles match adult females but have a pale buffy throat.

Subspecies L. v. amadoni Traits

The subspecies differ in the following ways: L. v. amadoni is darker overall than the nominate, and less bronzy on the rump.

Subspecies L. v. ovandensis Traits

L. v. ovandensis only differs from the nominate by having a smaller extent of green spots on the sides and flanks.

Subspecies L. v. nubivagus Traits

L. v. nubivagus has dark green upperparts and an intensely bronze rump.

Subspecies Distributions

Each subspecies occupies a distinct range: L. v. amadoni is found in the Sierra Atravesada in southeastern Oaxaca, Mexico; L. v. ovandensis is found in Mexico's Chiapas state and northwestern Guatemala; L. v. viridipallens is found in eastern Guatemala, extreme northern El Salvador, and western Honduras; L. v. nubivagus is found on Santa Ana Volcano in western El Salvador.

Habitat and Elevation Range

The species as a whole inhabits the interior and edges of humid evergreen forest and pine-oak forest, and occurs at elevations between 900 and 2,700 m (3,000 and 8,900 ft).