Orange-throated sunangel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orange-throated sunangel
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Heliangelus
Species:	H. mavors
Binomial name
Heliangelus mavors Gould, 1848
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The orange-throated sunangel (Heliangelus mavors) is a beautiful type of hummingbird. It belongs to a group of hummingbirds called "coquettes." You can find this tiny bird living in the countries of Colombia and Venezuela.

What Kind of Bird Is It?

The orange-throated sunangel is a unique bird. It is the only species in its specific group. This means there are no other types of sunangels that look exactly like it.

What Does It Look Like?

The orange-throated sunangel is a small bird. It is about 10 to 11 centimeters (4 to 4.3 inches) long. It weighs only about 3.9 to 4.4 grams (0.14 to 0.16 ounces). This is about the same weight as two pennies!

It has a straight, blackish beak. Adult male sunangels have a shiny green head and back. Their throat and upper chest are a bright, sparkling coppery orange. A wide, light brown band separates this orange from their lower chest. The lower chest is buff-colored with golden-green spots. The feathers in the middle of their tail are golden green. The outer tail feathers are dark bronze with light tips.

Female sunangels look a bit different. Their throat and upper chest are reddish-brown with light speckles. Young male birds look like adult females. However, young males have a dark brown throat.

Where Does It Live?

You can find the orange-throated sunangel in Venezuela. It lives in the state of Lara. From there, it spreads southwest into Colombia. It can be found as far as the Boyacá Department.

This hummingbird likes open areas. It lives at the edges of humid cloudforests. It also likes elfin forests, pastures, and páramo (a type of grassland). Sometimes, it can even be found in drier places. These birds live high up in the mountains. They are found at elevations from 2,000 to 3,200 meters (6,600 to 10,500 feet).

How Does It Behave?

Movement and Travel

The orange-throated sunangel usually stays in one area. It does not travel far. However, after it has babies, it will fly down to lower parts of the mountains.

What Does It Eat?

This hummingbird loves to eat nectar from flowers. It often protects groups of flowers from other birds. It will cling to the flower while it feeds. It usually looks for food close to the ground and near places where it can hide. The orange-throated sunangel also catches insects. It does this by flying out from a perch to snatch them in the air. This is called "hawking."

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The orange-throated sunangel's breeding season is from December to March. Scientists have not yet described what its nest looks like. The female bird lays two eggs. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm. This is called incubation. The female starts having babies when she is two years old. We do not know how long the eggs take to hatch. We also do not know how long it takes for the young birds to be ready to fly.

What Does It Sound Like?

The orange-throated sunangel makes a special call. It is a repeated, high-pitched sound. It sounds like a faint, cricket-like trill. The bird makes this sound both when it is flying and when it is sitting on a branch.

Is It Endangered?

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the orange-throated sunangel. They have decided it is a species of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. We do not know exactly how many of these birds there are. However, scientists believe their numbers are staying steady. It is quite common in Venezuela. But it is not as common, or even rare, in Colombia.