Black-throated Mango

The black-throated mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) is a hummingbird of striking poise, measuring between 10.2 to 14 cm in length and weighing a mere 6 to 9 grams. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males donning a metallic bronze-green crown and upperparts, and females sporting a more subdued metallic green without the bronzy tone.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their black chin, throat, and middle chest, bordered by metallic bluish green. Their tail feathers are a dazzling mix of dusky bronze green and metallic magenta-rufous with dark blue edges. Females, on the other hand, have a thin, ragged black chin and throat stripe with a white border, and their tail feathers are rufous with a wide purple base and whitish tips. Juveniles resemble adult females but have a white chin, throat, and breast with a thin black central line.

Habitat

The black-throated mango thrives in various semi-open to open landscapes within the lowland tropics, including gallery forests, shade coffee and cacao plantations, forest edges, and urban parks and gardens.

Distribution

This species is widespread, found from western Panama through much of South America, excluding Chile, and is also present in Trinidad and Tobago. It ranges in elevation from the lowlands up to 2,000 m in eastern Brazil.

Behaviour

Generally sedentary, the black-throated mango may exhibit seasonal movements or migrations in response to the availability of flowering plants, with the eastern Brazilian population known to undertake long-distance migrations.

Song & Calls

The black-throated mango is not particularly vocal, but males can be heard singing a repetitive "hsl-hsl-hsl" from the treetops. Calls include a sharp "twick" or "tiuck" and a "tsick."

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with nesting reported at different times across its range. Females construct cup nests from soft plant materials and spider silk, often in exposed locations. Clutch size is typically two eggs, with the female solely responsible for incubation and provisioning.

Diet and Feeding

This hummingbird feeds primarily on nectar from the flowers of tall trees and also consumes insects through hawking from high perches or gleaning from foliage.

Conservation status

The black-throated mango is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.