Green-throated mango facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green-throated mango |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Apodiformes |
| Family: | Trochilidae |
| Genus: | Anthracothorax |
| Species: |
A. viridigula
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| Binomial name | |
| Anthracothorax viridigula (Boddaert, 1783)
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The green-throated mango (Anthracothorax viridigula) is a type of hummingbird known for its bright colors. It lives in parts of South America, including Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad, and Venezuela. These tiny birds are famous for their fast wingbeats and love for flower nectar.
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About Its Name
Scientists give every animal a special name. This helps everyone know exactly which animal they are talking about. The green-throated mango's scientific name is Anthracothorax viridigula.
A French scientist named Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon first described this hummingbird in 1780. He saw a bird from French Guiana. Later, in 1783, a Dutch scientist named Pieter Boddaert gave it its first scientific name, Trochilus viridigula.
Today, the green-throated mango is part of the Anthracothorax group. This group name was given by a German scientist, Friedrich Boie, in 1831. The name Anthracothorax means "coal chest" in Ancient Greek, referring to the dark chest color of some hummingbirds in this group. The second part of its name, viridigula, comes from Latin words meaning "green throat." This perfectly describes the bird's green throat!
What Does It Look Like?
The green-throated mango is a small bird, about 10.5 to 12.5 cm (4.1 to 4.9 in) long. Males weigh about 7.5 to 8.5 g (0.26 to 0.30 oz), and females are a bit lighter at about 6.0 g (0.21 oz). They have a long, slightly curved black beak.
- Males: Their upper body is a shiny bronzy green. Their throat and belly are green with a black stripe down the middle. Their tail feathers are dark brown or green in the center, with shiny purple outer feathers that have dark blue tips.
- Females: Their upper body is also bronzy green, but with a bit more red. Their belly is white with a black stripe down the middle. Their tail looks like the male's, but the outer feathers have white tips.
- Young Birds: Young green-throated mangoes look similar to females, but their bellies are a chestnut color.
This hummingbird looks very much like its close relative, the black-throated mango. Sometimes it's hard to tell them apart in nature.
Where Does It Live?
The green-throated mango lives along the coast from northeastern Venezuela through Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It also lives in Brazil, reaching as far east as Maranhão and along the Amazon River inland to the Negro River. You can also find it in Trinidad, but not in Tobago.
These birds like to live in mangrove swamps, moist lowland savannas, and other swampy areas with large trees. They can be found from sea level up to about 500 m (1,600 ft) high.
Behavior
Movement
Green-throated mangoes that live near the coast usually stay in the same area all year. However, those living further inland might move around. They follow where trees are flowering to find food.
Feeding Habits
This hummingbird mostly eats nectar from tall flowering trees. Males will often protect their favorite feeding spots from other birds. They also eat insects, catching small arthropods while flying or picking them off leaves.
Reproduction
Green-throated mangoes can build nests and lay eggs at different times of the year. In the Guianas, most nests are found between January and March. The female builds a cup-shaped nest on an open, flat branch of a large tree. These nests are usually at least 10 m (33 ft) above the ground.
A female typically lays two eggs. The eggs hatch after 14 to 15 days. The young birds are usually ready to leave the nest (fledge) about 24 to 25 days after they hatch.
Vocalization
The green-throated mango is not a very loud bird. Its song sounds like a high, slightly falling trill, described as "f'srrrrrrih-tjew tjuh." When it flies or hovers near flowers, it makes a "chep...chep..." call.
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the green-throated mango as a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of extinction. However, its total population size is not known, and scientists believe it might be decreasing.
It is generally common in coastal areas but less common along the Amazon River. In Trinidad, it is rare because its habitat is being lost.
 | James B. Knighten |
 | Azellia White |
 | Willa Brown |
