Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

The Ruby-topaz Hummingbird is a small but spectacular species of northern South America and parts of the southern Caribbean. The adult male shows an iridescent ruby-red crown and a glowing golden-topaz throat and upper breast, colors so intensely reflective that they can flare bright orange-gold or appear nearly black depending on the angle of light, set off against a warm chestnut body and dark, slightly notched tail.

Females are far more subdued, with bronze-green upperparts, whitish underparts, and a chestnut-based tail tipped in white, lacking the male's fiery head and throat colors. Males perform a striking display in which the crown and gorget flash vividly while the bird hovers or perches, making it a favorite subject for photographers when the light is right.

Key field marks

• Males: iridescent ruby-red crown and golden-topaz throat/breast, chestnut body, dark tail
• Females: bronze-green above, whitish below, chestnut-and-white tail
• Small, compact size with a short, straight black bill
• Male head and throat colors can appear dull black or blaze bright gold/red depending on light angle

Similar species

• No other hummingbird in its range combines a ruby crown with a golden-topaz throat; male Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds are essentially unmistakable in good light.
• Females can be confused with other small chestnut-tailed hummingbirds but are best identified by range and the white-tipped chestnut tail.

Habitat

Found in open and semi-open country, savanna, scrub, gardens, and cultivated land, generally avoiding dense forest.

Range

Widespread across northern South America, including Venezuela, the Guianas, Colombia, and northern Brazil, plus Trinidad and Tobago and other southern Caribbean islands.

Migration

Some populations are partially migratory or nomadic, moving seasonally in response to flowering, particularly in drier parts of the range.

Behavior

Active and often pugnacious, males aggressively defend flowering territories and perform display flights that show off the iridescent crown and gorget.

Voice

A thin, high, twittering series of notes and sharp chip calls, typical of small hummingbirds.

Feeding

Feeds on nectar from a wide range of flowering shrubs and trees, and takes small insects in brief aerial sallies.

Nesting

Builds a tiny cup nest of plant down and spider web, often saddled on a low branch; lays 2 white eggs, incubated solely by the female.