Black-throated Mango

This is a medium-sized representative of the Trochilidae family, measuring approximately 10.2 centimeters in total length and weighing between 6.8 and 7.2 grams. It features a long, slightly decurved bill of a solid black coloration. Marked sexual dimorphism characterizes the adult plumage. The adult male presents a bronzy-green upperpart coloration with a metallic sheen, whereas the throat and the center of the breast display a broad, velvety black band bordered on each side by a striking glittering blue-green margin. Its tail is highly distinctive, featuring deep magenta or wine-red feathers tipped with dark purplish-black. In contrast, the adult female displays bright bronze-green upperparts and white underparts divided by a wide, vertical blackish-blue stripe running from the chin to the abdomen, with her outer tail feathers broadly tipped with white.

Geographical distribution: The geographic range of this species extends throughout much of the Neotropics. It is widely distributed from southern Panama and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, continuing southward through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, a vast portion of Brazil, and reaching into northern Argentina. It behaves as a highly vagile species, occupying lowland regions and inter-Andean valleys.

Habitat: This bird primarily occupies open and semi-open landscapes, showing a strong avoidance of dense, closed-canopy primary rainforests. It is frequently encountered in savannas, forest edges, agricultural clearings, shade-grown coffee plantations, as well as urban parks and residential gardens rich in nectar-producing ornamental plants. Its elevational distribution typically ranges from sea level up to 1000 meters, although individuals occasionally wander higher in dry, sheltered valleys.

Feeding: Its foraging regime is highly specialized, consisting of nectar and small arthropods. It feeds extensively on the nectar of flowering trees, with a strong preference for large-flowered genera such as Erythrina, Tabebuia, and Bauhinia. Protein requirements are met by actively capturing small insects and spiders. This is achieved through aerial flycatching (or hawking) or by systematically gleaning small invertebrates directly from the surface of leaves and bark.

Behavior: It exhibits highly territorial and aggressive behaviors, fiercely defending productive nectar sources from other hummingbirds and even significantly larger avian species. Its flight is rapid, direct, and incredibly agile, allowing the bird to perform prolonged stationary hovering while feeding. During the dry season or periods of resource scarcity, it may undergo local seasonal migrations, tracking the spatial and temporal flowering phenology across different elevations.

Nesting: Nest construction and parental care are performed exclusively by the female. The nest is a tiny, compact cup made of soft plant down and fine fibers, bound tightly with spider webs, which allow the structure to stretch as the chicks grow. The exterior of the nest is often camouflaged with bits of lichens, blending seamlessly with the supporting substrate. It is typically positioned on a slender, horizontal branch of a leafless tree, at heights ranging from 8 to 15 meters above the ground. The typical clutch consists of two white eggs. The incubation period lasts approximately 16 to 17 days, and the young fledge after 20 to 24 days of maternal care.

Conservation status: It is currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The global population is stable and is not considered globally threatened, as this species benefits significantly from anthropogenic habitat modification, expanding its range into suburban areas and secondary scrublands.