Birds Active during the day

Puerto Rican Mango

Anthracothorax aurulentus

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering emerald of the islands, the Puerto Rican Mango is a bold and beautiful hummingbird famous for its coppery tail and feisty attitude. This Caribbean endemic is a frequent visitor to tropical gardens, bringing a flash of iridescent color to any backyard.

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Quick Identification

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Size

11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) in length; weight 4.8–7.2 g (0.17–0.25 oz)

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Colors

Iridescent green upperparts; males have a glittery green throat and velvety brownish-purple belly; females have white underparts with a dark central stripe.

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Key Features

Long, slightly decurved black bill
Velvety brownish-purple belly patch on males
Reddish-purple or coppery tail with dark tips
White-tipped outer tail feathers on females

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Specializes in nectar from flowering trees and shrubs; also consumes high amounts of small insects and spiders for protein, often caught mid-air.

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Habitat Common in lowlands, coastal scrub, mangroves, and suburban gardens; less frequent in dense mountain forests.

Behavior

The Puerto Rican Mango is a highly energetic and territorial hummingbird known for its bold presence in Caribbean gardens. Unlike many smaller hummingbirds that flit timidly, the Mango is assertive, often claiming a favorite perch on an exposed twig to guard its nectar sources from rivals. They are incredibly agile in flight, capable of hovering with precision while feeding or darting at high speeds to chase away intruders.

During the day, they balance their time between high-octane foraging and rest. You will often see them 'hawking' for insects, a behavior where they fly out from a perch to snatch tiny gnats or flies from the air before returning to the same spot. They are well-adapted to human environments and are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, often becoming quite habituated to the presence of people if provided with a consistent food source.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of the Puerto Rican Mango, position your AI-powered camera within 18 to 24 inches of a nectar feeder or a high-traffic flowering shrub like Cape Honeysuckle or Hibiscus. Since these birds move with lightning speed, use a high shutter speed setting if your camera allows, and ensure the lens is angled to catch the morning or late afternoon sun. This directional lighting is essential to reveal the deep purples and coppery tail colors that can otherwise look dark or black in the shade.

Mount your camera at chest height (about 4 to 5 feet) to match their typical hovering level at feeders. Because this species is highly territorial, placing a camera near a 'sentinel perch'—usually a bare, exposed twig near a food source—is often more effective than focusing solely on the flowers. They will return to the same twig repeatedly to monitor their territory, providing your camera with the perfect opportunity to capture a clear, stationary image of the bird at rest.

Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the color red, so using a feeder with red accents or planting red tubular flowers will draw them into the camera's field of view. Keep the camera lens clean and free from nectar residue, as these birds can be messy drinkers. For the best results, place your setup in a spot that is sheltered from high winds to ensure the birds feel stable while hovering in front of your lens.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Puerto Rican Mango.

Green Mango

Larger and entirely iridescent green on the underparts; prefers higher elevation mountain forests.

Antillean Crested Hummingbird

Much smaller with a prominent head crest; lacks the deep purple belly of the male Mango.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active during the cooler parts of the day, typically from shortly after sunrise until about 10 AM, and again in the late afternoon from 4 PM until dusk.

Plant native nectar-producing flowers like Hibiscus or Ginger, and hang hummingbird feeders filled with a simple 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio. Avoid red dye in the nectar.

Their diet consists primarily of nectar from flowers, supplemented by small insects, gnats, and spiders which provide necessary protein.

Yes, they are very well-adapted to suburban environments and are one of the most common hummingbirds found in gardens and parks across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Puerto Rican Mango has a distinct brownish-purple belly patch (in males) and a more decurved bill. The Green Mango is entirely green underneath and prefers higher elevations in the mountains.

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