Sapphire-spangled Emerald (Chionomesa lactea)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Sapphire-spangled Emerald

Chionomesa lactea (Lesson, RP, 1832)

8–11 cmLength4.6 gWeight

Busiest months: July–August and October · Most records: Brazil, Peru, Bolivia

Where and when it's recorded

Sapphire-spangled Emerald has been recorded at 126 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 6 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de AndradeBrazil1,170 records
  2. Manu BiolodgePeru1,007 records
  3. Parque Ecológico do TietêBrazil787 records
More places
  1. Waqanki/Quebrada MishquiyaquilloPeru777 records
  2. Salesópolis – Sítio MacuquinhoBrazil647 records
  3. Jardín de Colibries y Mirador Pico de HozPeru627 records
  4. Amazonía LodgePeru625 records
  5. Rio Claro – Campus da UNESPBrazil607 records
  6. Reserva Arena BlancaPeru582 records
  7. Botucatu – Fazenda EdgárdiaBrazil363 records

Countries and regions with the most records

BrazilPeruBoliviaArgentinaVenezuelaParaguay

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Sapphire-spangled Emerald?

The Sapphire-spangled Emerald is about 8–11 cm long and weighs around 4.6 g.

Where does the Sapphire-spangled Emerald live?

Its breeding range: South America: Amazonia from southeastern Venezuela to northeastern Argentina and northern Bolivia. It is most often recorded in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.

When is the best time to see the Sapphire-spangled Emerald?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in July, August and October (Southern Hemisphere).

What does the Sapphire-spangled Emerald eat?

Main food: Nectar.

What family is the Sapphire-spangled Emerald in?

It belongs to the family Hummingbirds (Trochilidae), order Apodiformes.

At a glance

Length
8–11 cm
Weight
4.6 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Nectar
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
More measurements
Wing
54 mm
Tail
30 mm
Bill
22 mm
Tarsus
4 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: Amazonia from southeastern Venezuela to northeastern Argentina and northern Bolivia

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Hummingbirds Trochilidae
Genus
Chionomesa

Other birds in the genus Chionomesa

Glittering-throated EmeraldGlittering-throated EmeraldChionomesa fimbriataCrimson TopazCrimson TopazTopaza pellaFiery TopazFiery TopazTopaza pyraWhite-necked JacobinWhite-necked JacobinFlorisuga mellivoraBlack JacobinBlack JacobinFlorisuga fuscaWhite-tipped SicklebillWhite-tipped SicklebillEutoxeres aquilaBuff-tailed SicklebillBuff-tailed SicklebillEutoxeres condaminiSaw-billed HermitSaw-billed HermitRamphodon naeviusHook-billed HermitHook-billed HermitGlaucis dohrniiBronzy HermitBronzy HermitGlaucis aeneus
Sapphire-spangled Emerald

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

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