About Schistes albogularis Gould, 1852
Scientific Name and Size
The white-throated daggerbill, scientifically named Schistes albogularis Gould, 1852, measures 8.6 to 9.3 cm (3.4 to 3.7 in) in length and weighs 3.5 to 4.1 g (0.12 to 0.14 oz).
Etymology
It gets its common name from the very narrow, sharply pointed tip of its bill.
General Plumage
Both sexes are generally green across the body.
Male Plumage
Males have a shiny green forehead, violet-blue patches on the sides of the throat that can extend far up into the face, a white band across the upper chest, and a small white patch behind the eye.
Female Plumage
Females lack a shiny forehead, have smaller, mostly blue throat patches, and an unmarked white throat.
Geographic Distribution
This species is distributed from the western Andes and the west slope of the Central Andes of Colombia, south into western Ecuador.
Habitat
It lives in the interior and edges of dense cloudforest, and is often found near streams.
Elevation Range
Its elevation range is between 800 and 2,000 m (2,600 and 6,600 ft).
