Western Emerald
Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus
The Western Emerald (Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus) is a uncommon hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 3 g. The western emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae.
About the Western Emerald
The western emerald is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The western emerald is 10.9 to 11.4 cm (4.3 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 2.6 g (0.092 oz). Both sexes of both subspecies have a short black bill. The nominate male has an iridescent green forehead and crown with gold highlights, a bright green face, shining bronzy green upperparts, and a steel blue tail. Its underparts are glittering emerald green, with greater iridescence and a blue tinge on the breast. It has white thigh tufts. The female has a bronzy green forehead and crown and a blackish face with a pale gray spot behind the eye. Voice: The western emerald's song is "a continuous series of subdued scratchy and wheezy notes... sometimes preceded by a few introductory notes, witsitsitsi...chirr..chirr..chirr..chirr.. or tsit-trr, tsit-trr, tsit-trr, tsit-trr...." Its calls include "a soft tsip, pit, and chwep."
Where it lives
When to see it
The Western Emerald can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Western Emerald?
- The western emerald is 10.9 to 11.4 cm (4.3 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 2.6 g (0.092 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Western Emerald?
- The Western Emerald is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Western Emerald?
- The Western Emerald occurs in 2 countries, including Colombia and Ecuador.
- What birds look similar to a Western Emerald?
- The Western Emerald is most easily confused with the Blue-tailed Emerald, the Garden Emerald and the Red-billed Emerald.
Learn the Western Emerald for real
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