White-Throated Mountain Gem

Description:

This lovely bird is about 10.5 cm long. The shortish black bill is slightly curved. The second photo is the female. The adult male has bronze-green upperparts and underparts except for a brilliant green crown, white throat and blue tail. The female lacks the bright crown and throat, and has rich cinnamon underparts. Young birds resemble the female but have buff fringes to the upperparts plumage. The female white-throated mountaingem is entirely responsible for nest building and incubation. She lays two white eggs in a deep plant-fibre cup nest m high in a scrub, small tree or vine. Incubation takes 15–19 days, and fledging another 20-26.

Habitat:

This hummer inhabits a variety of forest types ranging from wet subtropical to cool montane. Its range is not very large.