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 - White-throated Mountain-gem (Gray-tailed)
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White-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris Scientific name definitions

Roselvy Juárez
Version: 2.0 — Published May 17, 2024
Revision Notes

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Introduction

The White-throated Mountain-gem is endemic to the highlands of southern Central America. Rather remarkably, given the species’ small range, it comprises two subspecies—the nominate of western Panama and L. c. cinereicauda of southern Costa Rica—which differ primarily in tail pattern. The nominate male has a dark green tail with a bluish-black subterminal band, whereas Costa Rican males have an entirely gray tail. Differences between females are more subtle: in Costa Rica, females have a dull bronzy green tail, whilst in Panama they have a darker bronzy-green tail with a prominent subterminal band. In the latter country, females of this species closely resemble females of Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus).

White-throated Mountain-gem inhabits humid montane forests and second growth, usually above 1,500 m, but, perhaps seasonally down to 1,000 m. Occasionally, the species is observed in plantations, shrubby clearings, and gardens adjacent to forests. It frequently forages in the canopy, but nests in the understory. The species is territorial at patches of flowers, and is dominant over the similar-sized Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus), but subordinate to the marginally larger Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis).

Several aspects of the life history of White-throated Mountain-gem remain relatively poorly studied. Basic information that is still “missing” includes multiple facets of breeding biology, diet, habitat preferences, behavior, demography, and survival. Partly in consequence, the species’ conservation status is not well known, although BirdLife International, which treats the two subspecies as different species, considers both to be Least Concern under IUCN Red List criteria. Perhaps some of the most glaring questions concern its taxonomy. As mentioned above, White-throated Mountain-gem is treated here as a polytypic species, but according to other taxonomic authorities, such treatment is inconsistent with recognition of Lampornis calolaemus as a species (see Systematics). It is unclear if the nominate subspecies is in contact with Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda; documented reports seem to suggest they are not. Interbreeding has been reported only with Lampornis calolaemus, which occurs sympatrically at several localities in both Costa Rica and Panama.

Distribution of the White-throated Mountain-gem - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the White-throated Mountain-gem

Recommended Citation

Juárez, R. (2024). White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (G. M. Kirwan and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.wtmgem1.02
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