About Chrysuronia goudoti (Bourcier, 1843)
The shining-green hummingbird (Chrysuronia goudoti) measures 9 to 9.5 cm (3.5 to 3.7 in) in total length. Males weigh approximately 4.1 g (0.14 oz), while females weigh approximately 3.7 g (0.13 oz). For all subspecies, both sexes have a mostly straight bill, with a black upper mandible (maxilla) and a mostly pink lower mandible (mandible).
Adult males of the nominate subspecies C. g. goudoti have green upperparts. Their underparts are primarily shining bluish-green, with a whitish belly and green undertail coverts that have white edges. Their tail is forked; the central tail feathers are bronze-black, and the outer tail feathers are blue-black. Adult females have upperparts identical to those of males. The underpart feathers of females have white bases and edges, which create a spotted appearance on the lower breast. Their belly is almost pure white, and their undertail coverts are white with some green markings. Their tail is less deeply forked than the male's, and is more bronzy or greenish rather than black. Juveniles have duller green upperparts than adults, with dusky edges on the feathers of the crown and nape. Below, they are mostly dull bronzy green with grayish-white feather edges, and have a grayish-white belly.
Males of the subspecies C. g. luminosa are more bronzy on the upperparts and golden-green on the underparts compared to the nominate subspecies. Females of this subspecies have less white on their belly and undertail coverts. C. g. zuliae is smaller than the nominate subspecies. It has a darker crown, less bronzy upperparts, and less white on the undertail coverts. Compared to the nominate subspecies, males of C. g. phaeochroa are darker on the upperparts, more bluish green on the underparts, and have a bluer crown.
The four subspecies of the shining-green hummingbird have the following distributions: C. g. luminosa is found in northern Colombia, from Chocó Department to Bolívar and Cesar departments. C. g. goudoti is found in the middle and upper Magdalena River Valley of central Colombia. C. g. zuliae is found in the northern and western Lake Maracaibo basin, located in extreme northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. C. g. phaeochroa is found in the southern and eastern Maracaibo basin of northwestern Venezuela.
The shining-green hummingbird lives in open landscapes, including brushy areas with scattered trees, arid to moist scrublands, gallery forest edges, coffee plantations, and gardens. In Colombia, it mostly occurs from sea level up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), though it can be found as high as 1,600 m (5,200 ft). In Venezuela, it occurs from sea level up to 800 m (2,600 ft).
