: A Gem of a Bird
The Blue-throated Mountain-gem is a stunningly beautiful bird that belongs to the hummingbird family. With its emerald green feathers and striking blue throat, this bird is a true gem of the mountains.
Basic Description:
The Blue-throated Mountain-gem measures between 10-12 cm in length and weighs around 5-7 g. The male has an iridescent green body with a deep blue throat patch, while the female has green upperparts and white underparts.
Where To Find This Bird:
This magnificent bird can be found in Central America, specifically in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In these countries, it primarily inhabits mountainous areas where there are humid forests or cloud forests.
Habitat:
The Blue-throated Mountain-gem prefers to live high up in mountainous regions with cool temperatures. It feeds on nectar from flowers found at different elevations within its habitat range.
Food:
As mentioned earlier, nectar from flowers is their primary food source but they have also been known to feed on insects including spiders which they catch mid-flight using their long thin bills. These birds play an important role as pollinators by transferring pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar.
Cool Facts:
There are several interesting facts about the Blue-throated Mountain-gem that make it even more fascinating:
1) Their wings move so rapidly that you can barely see them.
2) They are capable of flying backwards – one of only two groups of birds able to do so (the other being swifts).
3) When mating season comes around males perform aerial displays – displaying their gravity-defying skills with precision flights worth watching.
4) Despite being small creatures who spend most days collecting nectar for sustenance these birds have developed highly territorial behaviour when defending prime feeding spots from rival hummingbirds.
In conclusion, the Blue-throated Mountain-gem is a breathtakingly beautiful bird with unique characteristics. Their habitat and food preferences make them an important part of their ecosystem – playing a crucial role in pollination. The next time you are in Central America, be sure to look out for this little gem of the mountain tops!
