Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Panterpe insignis
Meet the Fiery-throated Hummingbird
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird is a dazzling, small bird renowned for its iridescent plumage that shimmers with vibrant hues of green, blue, and fiery orange on its throat when seen in the right light. Native to the highland forests of Costa Rica and western Panama, this hummingbird typically inhabits elevations between 1,400 and 3,500 meters. Its rapid wingbeats allow it to hover in place while feeding on nectar from a variety of flowers, and it also consumes small insects for protein. This species is highly territorial, often aggressively defending its feeding areas from other hummingbirds and insects.
Wikipedia Data 🎥 6 Videos 📚 5 Sources Classification
Bird
Habitat
Montane cloud forests
Diet
Omnivore
Lifespan
4-6 years
Conservation
Least Concern
Weight
5.5-6.5 grams
📖Fascinating Facts
Rainbow Throat
The throat feathers of the Fiery-throated Hummingbird refract light to display brilliant colors ranging from yellow to blue, depending on the angle.
High-Altitude Resident
This species thrives in the cool, humid cloud forests of Central American mountains, often at elevations above 2,000 meters.
Energy Dynamo
With a rapid metabolism, the Fiery-throated Hummingbird must visit hundreds of flowers daily and can enter torpor at night to conserve energy.
📋Detailed Description
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) is a medium-sized hummingbird, measuring approximately 11–12 cm in length and weighing between 5.5 and 6.5 grams. Its most striking feature is the iridescent plumage: the crown and upperparts are a shimmering emerald green, while the throat and upper breast display a fiery spectrum of metallic orange, yellow, and blue, which is especially vivid when viewed under direct sunlight. The tail is relatively short and deeply forked, with blue-black central feathers. The bill is straight, slender, and black, adapted for probing deep into tubular flowers. The species exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism, though females may have slightly duller coloration. Adapted to high-elevation cloud forests, it is often found at elevations from 1,400 up to 3,500 meters, especially near forest edges, clearings, and shrubby páramo. The Fiery-throated Hummingbird is highly territorial, often engaging in aggressive aerial chases to defend nectar-rich feeding territories. Its rapid wingbeats, up to 70 beats per second, allow it to hover with precision, and it is capable of agile, acrobatic flight maneuvers. The species is generally solitary outside of the breeding season, though loose aggregations may form at abundant food sources. Its vocalizations include sharp, metallic chips and high-pitched trills, used in both territorial defense and courtship displays.
💡 Did you know?
Despite their tiny size, Fiery-throated Hummingbirds are fiercely territorial and will chase away much larger birds from their favorite feeding spots.
🔬Research & Sources
Wikipedia Summary
The fiery-throated hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "mountain gems" tribe Lampornithini in subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
Last Modified: 4/15/2025
🎭Behavior & Social Structure
Fiery-throated Hummingbirds are diurnal and spend much of their day foraging for nectar, which constitutes the bulk of their diet. They exhibit traplining behavior, visiting a circuit of flowering plants, but dominant individuals may establish and aggressively defend territories around particularly productive flower patches. In addition to nectar, they supplement their diet with small arthropods, especially during the breeding season when protein requirements are higher. Feeding is typically solitary, but at large flowering trees or shrubs, multiple individuals may feed in proximity, resulting in frequent chases and displays. During cool mountain nights, they enter a state of torpor to conserve energy, significantly reducing their metabolic rate. Social interactions are characterized by frequent vocalizations and displays of iridescent plumage, especially during territorial disputes. They are known for their agility, able to fly backwards, hover, and perform rapid vertical ascents and descents.
👶Reproduction & Life Cycle
Breeding occurs primarily during the dry season, from November to March, though timing may vary with elevation and local climate. Males perform aerial courtship displays, including rapid shuttling flights and iridescent throat feather flaring, to attract females. Nests are constructed solely by the female, typically on horizontal branches or in sheltered forks, often 1–4 meters above ground. The nest is a small cup made of plant fibers, moss, and spider silk, camouflaged with lichens. The typical clutch consists of two white eggs. Incubation lasts about 15–17 days, and the female alone incubates and broods the chicks. After hatching, the chicks are fed regurgitated nectar and insects. Fledging occurs after 20–26 days, and the young are independent soon after leaving the nest. There is usually only one brood per season at higher elevations, but two may be possible in lower, warmer areas.
🛡️Adaptations & Survival
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird exhibits several adaptations to its high-elevation environment. Its dense plumage provides insulation against cold, and it can enter torpor to survive chilly nights. The iridescent throat feathers are structurally specialized to refract light, creating the fiery coloration used in social signaling. Its long, specialized tongue and brush-tipped bill enable efficient nectar extraction from deep flowers. High metabolic rates and rapid wingbeats are supported by a proportionally large heart and efficient respiratory system. Behavioral adaptations include aggressive territoriality to secure food resources and flexible foraging strategies (traplining and territorial defense) depending on resource distribution. The species is also capable of rapid acclimatization to fluctuating temperatures and oxygen levels typical of montane environments.
📚Research Sources
🎨Cultural Significance
In local cultures of Costa Rica and Panama, the Fiery-throated Hummingbird is admired for its dazzling beauty and is a popular subject in ecotourism and birdwatching. Its vibrant colors have inspired local art and folklore, often symbolizing vitality, agility, and the beauty of the cloud forests. While not traditionally used for ornamentation or ritual, its presence is considered an indicator of healthy highland ecosystems, and it features in conservation campaigns promoting the protection of montane habitats.
🔬Recent Research & Discoveries
Recent research has focused on the Fiery-throated Hummingbird's physiological adaptations to high-altitude environments, including studies on torpor, metabolic rates, and oxygen transport. Genetic analyses have clarified its phylogenetic relationships within the Lampornithini tribe, confirming its status as the sole member of the genus Panterpe. Ongoing studies are investigating the effects of climate change on its elevational range and the phenology of its preferred nectar plants. Behavioral ecologists have documented its complex territorial strategies and the role of iridescent plumage in social signaling. Citizen science initiatives, such as eBird, have contributed valuable data on its distribution and seasonal movements.
🎥Wildlife Videos
Fiery-Throated Hummingbird | Nat Geo WILD (narrated)
HummingBird #NatGeoWILD #Voiceover Narrated by Ira Martin I do not own any of the original content in the video. Just added ...
Ira Martin
The Secret Lives of Hummingbirds | Narrated by David Attenborough | Nature Documentary
Discover the fascinating world of hummingbirds in this stunning nature documentary, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Witness ...
Terra Mater
Fiery-throated Hummingbird: A Short Story
This video was made in conjunction with the Storytelling for Impact course from National Geographic. It is a brief story about the ...
Tyler Wenzel
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis)
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird is found in Costa Rica and Panama. _ #birds #facts #bird #avian #birdslover #ornithology ...
1 Minute Birds
04 - Fiery-throated Hummingbird
My top 10 Hummingbirds.
Carlo Ferraro
4K Ultra HD Video || Costa rica fiery throated hummingbird panterpe
Amazing world is a channel which produced raw videos from beautiful locations in the world. Natural beauty is our main priority.
CatBuzz
🌍Habitat Information
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird typically inhabits Montane cloud forests environments. Fiery-throated Hummingbirds have adapted to their environments with specialized features and behaviors.
Primary Habitat:
Montane cloud forests
More detailed habitat information will be available soon.
🛡️Conservation Status
The Fiery-throated Hummingbird is currently classified as Least Concern. Conservation efforts are crucial for preserving this species for future generations.
Common Threats:
- 🏠Habitat loss and fragmentation
- 🌡️Climate change impacts
- 🎯Hunting and poaching
- 🏭Human-wildlife conflict
⚠️Threats & Conservation Challenges
Currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Fiery-throated Hummingbird has a stable population, but it faces localized threats. Habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development in montane regions can fragment populations and reduce available feeding and nesting sites. Climate change poses a significant long-term threat by altering the distribution of cloud forests and shifting flowering phenology, potentially reducing nectar availability. Pesticide use may impact insect prey abundance. However, the species benefits from its occurrence in several protected areas, including national parks and reserves in Costa Rica and Panama. Continued monitoring is necessary to detect population changes, especially in response to environmental shifts.
🔬Scientific Classification
Scientific Name
Panterpe insignis
Classification Hierarchy
🔍 About Taxonomic Classification
Taxonomic classification is a hierarchical system used by scientists to classify and organize living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
The system moves from broad categories (Kingdom) to increasingly specific ones, with each animal's scientific name typically consisting of its Genus and species.
📝Community Notes
Share your observations and insights about the Fiery-throated Hummingbird with our community of wildlife enthusiasts.
Join Our Community
Sign in to share your observations and connect with fellow wildlife enthusiasts.
Sign In to ContributeNo community notes yet
Be the first to share your observations about the Fiery-throated Hummingbird!
Explore Fiery-throated Hummingbird
Select a tab above to learn more about this amazing animal.
📸Photo Gallery
No photos available for this animal yet.
🌟Discover More Wildlife
Continue your journey of discovery with more fascinating animals from our database