White-bellied emerald facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White-bellied emerald
In Guatemala
In Belize
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Apodiformes
Family:	Trochilidae
Genus:	Chlorestes
Species:	C. candida
Binomial name
Chlorestes candida (Bourcier & Mulsant, 1846)
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Synonyms
Amazilia candida

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The white-bellied emerald (Chlorestes candida) is a beautiful, small hummingbird. It's part of a group of hummingbirds often called "emeralds." You can find this speedy bird in several countries. These include Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Understanding the White-Bellied Emerald

How Scientists Name Birds

Scientists group living things based on how they are related. This is called taxonomy. The white-bellied emerald was once in a group called Amazilia. But in 2014, new studies looked at the birds' DNA. They found that the Amazilia group wasn't quite right.

So, in 2020, big bird groups like the American Ornithological Society decided to move the white-bellied emerald. It, along with four other hummingbirds, now belongs to the group Chlorestes. This helps scientists understand bird families better.

Different Types of White-Bellied Emeralds

There are three types, or subspecies, of the white-bellied emerald. They are:

• C. c. candida (the most common type)
• C. c. genini
• C. c. pacifica

What the White-Bellied Emerald Looks Like

This hummingbird is about 8 to 11 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) long. It weighs between 2.9 and 4.3 grams (about the weight of two paper clips!).

Adult birds have shiny, metallic bronze or green feathers on their upper parts. Their back is usually greener than their head and neck. Their belly is white, and their cheeks and sides have a metallic green color.

Their tail is metallic bronze. Most tail feathers have a dark band near the end. The two outermost feathers also have dull gray tips. Young white-bellied emeralds look similar to adults. But the feathers on their head and rump have brownish tips.

Small Differences in Subspecies

The C. c. genini subspecies has a bill that is longer and wider than the main type. The C. c. pacifica also has a stronger, thicker bill. Its green back feathers also extend further down its sides.

Where the White-Bellied Emerald Lives

The most common type, C. c. candida, lives along the Caribbean coast. You can find it from parts of Mexico, through Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, down to Nicaragua.

C. c. genini lives in southeastern Mexico. C. c. pacifica is found in southern Mexico and also in Guatemala. Some old records show them in Costa Rica, but they haven't been seen there recently.

These hummingbirds like to live in forests. They prefer forests that stay green all year or those that lose some leaves. They can live from sea level up to about 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) high.

White-Bellied Emerald Behavior

Movement and Travel

Most white-bellied emeralds stay in the same area all year. They are "resident" birds. However, some groups might move short distances during different seasons.

What They Eat

White-bellied emeralds often feed close to the ground. But they also look for food at all levels, even high up in the treetops. Their main food is nectar from many different kinds of flowers. They also catch and eat small insects found on leaves.

Bigger hummingbirds, like the rufous-tailed hummingbird, sometimes try to push them away from food. But in 2019, scientists saw something surprising. A female white-bellied emerald was feeding a young rufous-tailed hummingbird!

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Male white-bellied emeralds sing to attract females. They gather in special areas called leks to do this. This suggests that one male might mate with several females.

Their breeding season is from February to May. The female builds a cup-shaped nest on a horizontal branch. She uses plant materials and spiderwebs. She decorates the outside with lichen and moss. Females usually lay two eggs.

Their Sounds

The white-bellied emerald has a varied song. It sounds high, thin, and a bit shrill. People describe it as "tsi'si-sit' tsi-tsin" or "tssi-ip tssi-ip ..."

Their calls are usually rolled or trilled chirps. They sound like "trirr" and "ti-ti" or "tsi-tsir." They also make longer sounds like "drii-i-i-it" and "tsi si-si-si-sit."

Conservation Status

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the white-bellied emerald as "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.

It lives across a large area. However, scientists don't know exactly how many there are. They believe the number of these birds is going down. This is mainly because their forest homes are being destroyed.