About Polyerata amabilis (Gould, 1853)
The blue-chested hummingbird, with the scientific name Polyerata amabilis, is a hummingbird species that belongs to the Trochilidae family. Its known distribution covers Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, as well as heavily degraded former forest. This hummingbird forages via trap-lining, and also defends feeding territories—especially in habitats with low nectar availability. It feeds on nectar, and also consumes small insects that it gleans from foliage. Its foraging territories are often located on forest borders, in areas with scattered flowers. During the breeding season, males form leks to attract females. This species was previously classified in the genus Amazilia. A 2014 molecular phylogenetic study found that Amazilia was polyphyletic. In revised classification that aimed to create monophyletic genera, the blue-chested hummingbird was moved to the resurrected genus Polyerata.
