Golden-tailed Sapphire
Chrysuronia oenone
The Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) is a uncommon hummingbird found in 6 countries, weighing about 5 g. The golden-tailed sapphire is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.
About the Golden-tailed Sapphire
The golden-tailed sapphire is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The golden-tailed sapphire is 9.5 to 10 cm (3.7 to 3.9 in) long. Males weigh 4.7 to 6.3 g (0.17 to 0.22 oz) and females 4.3 to 5.3 g (0.15 to 0.19 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a slightly curved bill with a black maxilla and a black-tipped red mandible. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a violet-blue head and throat. Their back is bright green that transitions through bronze-green to bright coppery coverts and a copper-bronze tail. Their breast is glittering green, their belly bronze-green, and underneath their tail, their coverts are bronze with whitish edges. Voice: The golden-tailed sapphire's song is variable, described as "a repeated rhythmic phrase, often starting with a burry note, followed by several very squeaky or scratchy notes, and ending with repeated chips." It also makes calls described as "a drawn-out metallic trill and shorter chipping notes."
What the Golden-tailed Sapphire sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Brazil.
When to see it
The Golden-tailed Sapphire can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Golden-tailed Sapphire?
- The golden-tailed sapphire is 9.5 to 10 cm (3.7 to 3.9 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Golden-tailed Sapphire?
- The Golden-tailed Sapphire is a tiny sized bird weighing about 5 g.
- Where can you see a Golden-tailed Sapphire?
- The Golden-tailed Sapphire occurs in 6 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia.
- What does a Golden-tailed Sapphire sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Golden-tailed Sapphire on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Golden-tailed Sapphire?
- The Golden-tailed Sapphire is most easily confused with the Versicolored Emerald, the Sapphire-throated Hummingbird and the Shining-green Hummingbird.
- Is the Golden-tailed Sapphire endangered?
- The Golden-tailed Sapphire is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Golden-tailed Sapphire for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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