Saucerottia beryllina (Deppe, 1830)

Scientific Classification and Length

The berylline hummingbird, Saucerottia beryllina (Deppe, 1830), ranges 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) in length.

Weight

Males weigh approximately 4.4 g (0.16 oz) and females weigh approximately 4.0 g (0.14 oz).

Male Bill Structure

Across all subspecies, male bills have a black maxilla and a pinkish mandible with a black outer half.

Nominate Male Upperbody Plumage

Adult males of the nominate subspecies S. b. beryllina have bronze-green to coppery head, back, and rump. Their uppertail coverts and tail are coppery to rufous.

Nominate Male Wing Plumage

The bases of their primaries and secondaries are chestnut, which forms a visible patch when the wing is closed.

Nominate Male Underpart Plumage

Their underparts are glittering golden green.

Nominate Female Plumage

Adult nominate females are very similar to males, but have a paler, more grayish throat and belly, and entirely black bills.

Juvenile Plumage

Juveniles resemble females but have a grayish cinnamon belly.

S. b. viola Subspecies Plumage

The subspecies S. b. viola has a grayish tinge to its back and rump, a fawn to cinnamon belly, and dark violet uppertail coverts and tail.

S. b. lichtensteini Subspecies Plumage

S. b. lichtensteini is overall lighter green than the nominate subspecies, and has a silvery tail.

S. b. sumichrasti Subspecies Plumage

Male S. b. sumichrasti have duller green plumage than the nominate, with a purplish gloss on the tail; female S. b. sumichrasti have a silvery to purple cast on their central tail feathers.

S. b. devillei Subspecies Plumage

S. b. devillei has more bronze on the back and rump than the nominate, and a purplish to bronzy chestnut tail.

S. b. viola Distribution

The subspecies of berylline hummingbird are distributed across the following regions: S. b. viola is found in western Mexico from Sonora to Michoacán and Guerrero, and rarely occurs as far north as the southwestern United States.

S. b. beryllina Distribution

S. b. beryllina is found in central Mexico from México state south into Veracruz and Oaxaca.

S. b. lichtensteini Distribution

S. b. lichtensteini is found in western Chiapas, southern Mexico.

S. b. sumichrasti Distribution

S. b. sumichrasti is found in extreme southeastern Oaxaca, and northern and central Chiapas in southern Mexico.

S. b. devillei Distribution

S. b. devillei occurs separately from the other subspecies, in a discontinuous range starting in southern Guatemala, extending through El Salvador into central Honduras.

Habitat Types

The berylline hummingbird primarily inhabits arid landscapes, including dense oak and pine-oak forest, scrublands, deciduous forest, thorn forest, gallery forest, plantations, and parks and gardens.

Elevation Range

It occurs at elevations from near sea level to the submontane zone, and is most commonly found between 500 and 1,800 m (1,600 and 5,900 ft).