Birds diurnal

Blue-throated Goldentail

Chlorestes eliciae

With a shimmering violet throat and a tail that glows like burnished copper, the Blue-throated Goldentail is a living jewel of the tropical lowlands. This spirited hummingbird brings a flash of iridescent color and bold personality to every garden it visits.

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Quick Identification

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Size

8.5–9.5 cm (3.3–3.7 in) in length; weighs approximately 3.2–3.8 g (0.11–0.13 oz)

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Colors

Bright iridescent violet-blue throat; glittering golden-bronze or coppery tail; metallic green upperparts; reddish bill with a distinct black tip

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Key Features

Vibrant violet-blue gorget (throat patch)
Glittering coppery-gold tail feathers
Reddish bill with a black tip
Greenish-buff underparts

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

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Season Year-round, with peak visibility during the dry season when flowers are in full bloom.

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Diet Primarily floral nectar from tubular flowers; also consumes small spiders and insects caught in flight for protein.

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Habitat Found in humid lowland forests, edges, secondary growth woodlands, and lush gardens with flowering plants.

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Behavior

The Blue-throated Goldentail is a high-energy hummingbird known for its bold and somewhat territorial nature. In the wild, they are often observed in the lower to middle layers of the forest, but they are incredibly adaptable and frequently visit suburban gardens where nectar is plentiful. Unlike more shy species, the Goldentail is quite vocal, with males often perching on open twigs to sing high-pitched, buzzy songs to establish their territory.

These birds are master aerialists, capable of hovering with precision and flying backwards or upside down to reach difficult nectar sources. They are often seen defending a specific patch of flowers, aggressively chasing away other hummingbirds—even those larger than themselves. While they are mostly solitary, multiple individuals may gather near a particularly rich food source, leading to a flurry of iridescent movement and chirping.

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Camera Tips

To capture the true brilliance of the Blue-throated Goldentail, camera positioning relative to the sun is your most important factor. Hummingbird feathers are structural, meaning their colors are created by light refraction rather than pigment. To see the 'blue' in the throat, place your camera with the sun directly behind it, pointing toward a favored perch or feeder. If the bird is backlit, the throat will appear dull black instead of shimmering violet.

Mount your AI-powered camera about 4 feet off the ground, roughly 2 to 3 feet away from a cluster of red or orange tubular flowers like Salvia or Heliconia. Because these birds have a predictable flight path when visiting flowers, you can pre-focus on a specific bloom. Using a 'Burst Mode' or high-frame-rate setting is essential, as their wings beat dozens of times per second. If your camera has an AI-trigger for birds, ensure it is set to its highest sensitivity to catch their rapid 'in-and-out' feeding style.

For the most professional-looking shots, provide a 'staging perch'—a thin, bare twig placed about 5 feet away from your feeder or flower patch. Goldentails love to sit and survey their territory between feedings. This allows the camera to capture high-detail, still portraits without the blur of wing movement. In tropical or humid climates, check your lens periodically for condensation, especially during the early morning peak hours when these birds are most active.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Blue-throated Goldentail.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Lacks the violet-blue throat patch and has a more olive-green chest and a brighter rufous-red tail.

Blue-headed Sapphire

The blue coloration extends over the entire head and crown, whereas the Goldentail's blue is restricted to the throat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Blue-throated Goldentails are most active in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon. They feed frequently throughout the day to support their high metabolism, but these 'golden hours' provide the best light for seeing their iridescent colors.

The best way to attract them is to plant native, nectar-rich flowers like Firebush, Shrimp Plant, or Hibiscus. They are also frequent visitors to sugar-water feeders (using a 4:1 water-to-white-sugar ratio) and enjoy misting stations or shallow birdbaths for grooming.

Their diet is a mix of nectar for sugar-driven energy and tiny invertebrates. They 'hawk' for gnats and fruit flies in mid-air and will also glean small spiders from the undersides of leaves to get necessary protein and minerals.

Yes, they are quite common in suburban areas within their range, especially in neighborhoods that maintain mature trees and diverse flowering gardens. They are more adaptable to human presence than many other forest-dwelling hummingbirds.

Look specifically for the combination of a bright reddish bill with a black tip and the namesake golden-bronze tail. While other hummingbirds have blue throats, the specific coppery tone of the Goldentail's tail is a unique field mark.

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