Blue-throated Mountaingem

The Blue-throated Mountaingem, known scientifically as Lampornis clemenciae, is a striking species of hummingbird belonging to the tribe Lampornithini within the subfamily Trochilinae. It is the largest hummingbird found in the United States, with a length ranging from 11.2 to 12.8 cm and males weighing an average of 8.4 g, while females are slightly lighter at 6.8 g.

Identification Tips

Both sexes possess a medium-length black bill, with females sporting a slightly longer bill than males. A distinctive white stripe is present behind the eye, complemented by a narrower stripe extending from the bill's corner beneath a blackish cheek patch. The male's iridescent cobalt to cerulean blue gorget is edged with a narrow buffy gray margin, while the female lacks the gorget and has medium gray underparts.

Habitat

This species thrives in moist forest environments, including riparian forests, pine-oak woodlands, and mixed coniferous forests. In the United States and northern Mexico, it is often found in canyons, while in central and southern Mexico, it prefers coniferous forests.

Distribution

The Blue-throated Mountaingem is found across a broad range, from the Sierra Madre Oriental and central plateau of Mexico to the southeastern parts of Arizona and New Mexico in the United States. It also inhabits the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango, with a breeding population in the Chisos Mountains of southern Texas.

Behaviour

Migration patterns are observed in the northern subspecies, which move southward during winter, although their exact wintering locations remain a mystery. Some individuals choose to overwinter at feeding stations in southeastern Arizona. Central and southern Mexican populations are believed to descend to lower elevations in the colder months.

Song & Calls

The male Blue-throated Mountaingem sings two distinct songs: a simple "peep song" resembling a squeaky wheel and a more complex, quieter "whisper song." The female also sings during the breeding season to attract males. Their vocalizations include sharp, atonal trills and clicks, with an impressive vocal range of 1.8 to 30 kHz.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by location, starting as early as February in Veracruz, Mexico, and extending to September in some areas. The female is solely responsible for nest construction and chick rearing, creating nests from soft plant fibers and spider silk, often camouflaged with green moss or lichens.

Diet and Feeding

The Blue-throated Mountaingem feeds on nectar from a diverse array of flowering plants and is known to frequent sugar-water feeders. It also consumes small arthropods, which it captures by hawking or gleaning from bark and foliage. In winter, it may feed on sap from wells drilled by the Red-naped Sapsucker.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Blue-throated Mountaingem as Least Concern, with an estimated population of around 2,000,000 mature individuals and no immediate threats identified. It is highly tolerant of human activity, though its limited range in the northern part of its distribution could be susceptible to habitat damage.