Order
Caprimulgiformes
Family
Trochilidae
Genus
Lampornis
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus

Rachel Edmunds, Marîa del Coro Arizmendi, Claudia I. Rodríguez-Flores, and Carlos A. Soberanes-González
Version: 1.0 — Published July 8, 2011

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Vocalizations

Amethyst-throated Hummingbirds make four distinct vocalizations: a territorial call, a display call, a foraging call, and a song (Ornelas et al. 2002):


1.Territorial call – The territorial call is made by males. It is a series of short, rapid clicking sounds that is produced often in response to a neighbor, when the male is leaving his territory, and during territorial defense chases.


2.Display call - Males also produce a display call to attract mates. This call is a series of 7 - 10 shrill whistle notes, made while performing an aerial mating display. Each note in the series is the same length (usually less than 5 seconds), but the time between each note varies in length.


3.Feeding call – This call is a persistent buzzing sound that is produced by both males and females while foraging.


4. Song – This song is a quiet chatter made up of a two-syllable introductory phrase followed by a mixture of notes arranged into very complex vocalizations. The first syllable of the introduction is a series of warbling notes, and the second part is comprised of buzzing notes, usually numbering from six to 20. The song continues with four to nine complex phrases composed of a mixture of notes that are different lengths and cover a wide frequency range. Both males and females sing.

Nonvocal Sounds

As is the case with many species of hummingbirds, the rapid beating of the wings in flight produces a muted humming sound.

Recommended Citation

Edmunds, R., M. d. C. Arizmendi, C. I. Rodríguez-Flores, and C. A. Soberanes-González (2011). Amethyst-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis amethystinus), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.amthum1.01