Introduction
The Blue-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis clemenciae) is a large hummingbird of montane forests and wooded canyons in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is especially notable for the male’s iridescent blue gorget, contrasting white facial stripes and strong territorial behaviour around flowers and feeders.
Physical Description
The Blue-throated Mountaingem is a robust hummingbird measuring approximately 11–12 cm in length and weighing about 8.1–8.6 g. It is one of the largest hummingbirds that regularly breeds in the United States.
Adults of both sexes have bronzy-green upperparts, grey underparts, a relatively long, slightly decurved bill and a long, full tail. Two white facial stripes, one behind the eye and one below it, are distinctive. The dark tail has conspicuous white tips or outer-tail spots that can flash during flight.
Adult males have a brilliant blue, sapphire-like gorget that may appear almost black in poor light. Females lack the blue throat and are generally duller, with a grey-green throat and underparts. Juveniles resemble females and gradually develop adult plumage as they mature.
Range and Habitat
The species is distributed mainly through the mountainous regions of Mexico, with a much smaller range in the United States. In the United States, it breeds locally in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and in the Chisos Mountains of southwestern Texas.
It favours cool, shaded habitats including pine-oak woodland, mixed coniferous forest, wooded canyons and streamside vegetation. In the United States, it is usually associated with flower-rich areas along creeks and canyon bottoms between approximately 975 and 3,500 metres, although it may occur at lower elevations during migration or winter. In Mexico, it can range from lowland woodland to high-elevation pine forest.
The species is a short-distance migrant. Some birds move southward after the breeding season, while others remain in suitable areas or descend to lower elevations. Geographic variation is recognised, with several similar subspecies occurring in different parts of the range.
Where to See This Species
Madera Canyon, Arizona, United States
Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains is a well-known public birding area with riparian woodland, oak-juniper habitat and higher pine-oak forest. Blue-throated Mountaingems occur there in small numbers, particularly around wooded canyon habitat and public hummingbird-feeding areas. Spring and summer provide the best opportunity for birds associated with breeding habitat, although sightings can occur at other times.
Nearby accommodation: Green Valley and the surrounding Madera Canyon area offer guest houses, lodges, cabins, campsites and other self-catering accommodation.
Cave Creek Canyon, Arizona, United States
Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains contains shaded, well-watered woodland and streamside habitat suitable for this species. Blue-throated Mountaingems have been documented in the canyon, including around the Southwestern Research Station and nearby public-access areas. Look along creek corridors, at flowering plants and near established hummingbird-feeding stations.
Nearby accommodation: Portal is the main gateway settlement, with guest houses, lodges, cabins and camping options in and around the canyon.
Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
The higher Chisos Mountains provide pine-oak-juniper woodland, moist canyons and seasonal flowering plants. The National Park Service has recorded Blue-throated Mountaingems in the Chisos area at different times of year. Late summer, when mountain sage and other flowers are available, can be productive, especially around the Basin, visitor facilities and wooded canyon trails.
Nearby accommodation: Chisos Basin provides park lodging and camping, while additional hotels, guest houses and campsites are available around the Terlingua and Study Butte gateway area.
Behaviour and Diet
Blue-throated Mountaingems are generally solitary outside the breeding season. Males defend nectar-rich territories and may aggressively chase other hummingbirds from flowers, feeders and favoured perches. Threat displays can include fanning the tail, expanding the body feathers and exposing the bright gorget.
They feed on nectar from a wide range of flowers and also take insects and spiders. Invertebrates become particularly important when flowers are scarce. Prey may be captured in flight or gleaned from foliage, branches, spider webs and other surfaces.
Males often sing from an exposed perch to mark territory and attract females. Their song is relatively soft and complex. During courtship, females may respond vocally, and male and female birds may sing together, an unusual behaviour among hummingbirds in the United States.
The female builds the nest and provides all parental care. Nests are made from plant fibres, spider silk, hair and feathers, with moss, bark and other plant material added to the outside. They may be placed on branches, rock ledges, streambanks, bridges, buildings or other sheltered supports. A clutch usually contains one or two white eggs. Incubation lasts about 17–19 days, and young remain in the nest for approximately 24–26 days.
Identification Tips
- Look for a large, long-tailed hummingbird with a relatively long, slightly curved bill.
- The male has a glittering blue throat, grey underparts, bronzy-green upperparts and two white facial stripes.
- In flight, the white markings on the dark tail can be easier to notice than the blue throat.
- Females and juveniles lack the blue gorget but retain the white facial stripes, greyish underparts and distinctive tail pattern.
- The species is often found in shaded streamside woodland rather than open desert or exposed grassland.
- Rivoli’s Hummingbird is larger and has a different facial and throat pattern. Its adult male has a green throat and purple crown rather than the Blue-throated Mountaingem’s blue gorget. Female Rivoli’s Hummingbirds also lack the Blue-throated Mountaingem’s characteristic combination of two white facial stripes and strongly marked tail corners.
Conservation Status
The Blue-throated Mountaingem is currently assessed as Least Concern. It is numerous and widespread in Mexico, but its United States range is small and geographically restricted.
Important local threats include the loss or degradation of montane woodland and riparian habitat through logging, grazing, mining, water diversion, development and the spread of invasive plants. Climate-driven changes to flowering periods and water availability may also affect food resources in mountain canyons.
Protecting mature pine-oak and mixed-conifer woodland, maintaining natural stream flows, conserving flowering plants and managing habitat within protected areas are important measures for the species. Because many United States populations occupy isolated mountain canyons, local fires or other severe disturbances could have significant effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can the Blue-throated Mountaingem be found?
It occurs mainly in the mountains of Mexico, with small breeding populations in southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and the Chisos Mountains of southwestern Texas.
What does a Blue-throated Mountaingem look like?
It is a large hummingbird with bronzy-green upperparts, grey underparts, two white facial stripes, a long tail and white markings on the outer tail feathers. Adult males have an iridescent blue throat, while females and juveniles do not.
What does the Blue-throated Mountaingem eat?
Its diet consists of flower nectar, insects and spiders. It may glean small invertebrates from vegetation or catch them in flight, especially when flowers are scarce.
Is the Blue-throated Mountaingem migratory?
It is a short-distance migrant. Some birds move southward or to lower elevations after breeding, while others remain in suitable mountain habitat throughout the year.
When is the best time to see this species?
Spring and summer are generally the most reliable periods in the United States because birds occupy breeding territories in wooded canyons and visit flowering plants. Late summer can also be productive where mountain sage and other nectar sources are blooming.
Is the Blue-throated Mountaingem endangered?
No. It is currently classified as Least Concern, although local populations can be vulnerable to habitat loss, altered water supplies, severe fires and other disturbance in isolated mountain habitats.
References
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- U.S. Forest Service
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