“wine-throated hummingbird” by William Stephens is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The wine-throated hummingbird (Selasphorus ellioti) is a species of hummingbird belonging to the tribe Mellisugini in the subfamily Trochilinae, commonly known as the “bee hummingbirds.” This bird measures about 6.5 to 7 cm (2.6 to 2.8 in) in length. The females weigh between 2 and 4 g (0.071 to 0.14 oz), while male weights are not documented. Both Sєxes of both subspecies have a short, straight, blackish bill, and a small white spot behind the eye. Males of the nominate subspecies have green upperparts with a glittering rose-pink gorget, accented by violet highlights. The longer hindward feathers of the gorget flare out and back. The flanks are a combination of cinnamon and green, while the rest of the underparts are whitish. The central pair of tail feathers are green with some rufous at the base, while the remaining tail feathers are rufous with a wide black band near the end. The outermost pair of tail feathers have white tips.
“wine-throated hummingbird” (cropped) by Fernando Bautista is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The female of the nominate subspecies also has green upperparts, but her chin and throat are white with dusky spots. The upper breast is white, the center of the belly is whitish, and the flanks and undertail coverts are cinnamon.
The female’s tail has more black and less rufous compared to the male’s, with the outer feathers having more cinnamon than white.
“wine-throated hummingbird” by William Stephens is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The wine-throated hummingbird’s nominate subspecies is found in southern Mexico’s Chiapas state and much of Guatemala. The subspecies S. e. selasphoroides is found in western Honduras and northern El Salvador.
“wine-throated hummingbird” by William Stephens is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
These birds inhabit montane landscapes, including the interiors, edges, and clearings of semi-humid to humid pine-oak and evergreen forests, as well as adjacent shrublands. They are typically found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 m (4,900 to 11,500 ft).
“wine-throated hummingbird” by noverholtz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The wine-throated hummingbird feeds on nectar from various flowering plants, although specific details about its diet are scarce. It forages at all levels of vegetation but tends to favor lower to middle heights. It hovers while feeding. Like most other hummingbirds, it is presumed to also consume small arthropods.
“wine-throated hummingbird” (cropped) by Melvin Bonilla is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Male wine-throated hummingbirds engage in courtship displays at dispersed leks, where they sing from exposed branches. The specific nesting season of this species has not been documented but is believed to potentially extend from August to February. Limited information is available about its breeding phenology.
“wine-throated hummingbird” by Christoph Moning is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The wine-throated hummingbird produces a song characterized by a series of high, slightly buzzy, squeaky chips that break into a warble. It also emits high, thin, sharp chips, often repeated steadily, sounding like “sip-sip” or “cheup cheup.” The sound of the male’s wings creates a “thrum” noise during hovering for feeding and during encounters with other males.
“wine-throated hummingbird” by William Stephens is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The wine-throated hummingbird has been ᴀssessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has a large range and an estimated population of 20,000 to 50,000 mature individuals. However, the population is believed to be decreasing. The Mexican government has classified it as Threatened due to habitat loss resulting from forest clearing for agriculture and grazing activities in highland areas.
“wine-throated hummingbird” by William Stephens is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
