Gilded Sapphire

Identification

The gilded sapphire is a small hummingbird, measuring 8 to 10 cm in length and weighing just 4 to 5 grams. Both males and females display a distinctive medium-length, straight bill that is coral red with a black tip. Adult males are predominantly iridescent golden-green with a pale rufous chin and a striking glittering golden-bronze tail that gives the species its common name. Females are similar in pattern but noticeably duller overall, with a grayish lower belly. Juveniles resemble adult females but bear buff fringes on their head feathers, making them distinguishable from older birds.

Range & Habitat

This species occupies a broad range across South America, found in northeastern to south-central Bolivia, essentially all of Paraguay and Uruguay, central and southeastern Brazil, and northern Argentina. The gilded sapphire favors open landscapes including savannahs with scattered trees, forest edges and clearings, plantations, and gardens. It is most numerous between 400 and 800 metres elevation, though it regularly occurs from 200 metres up to 1,000 metres, and locally even higher. The species readily adapts to human-modified habitats and shows a tendency toward range expansion.

Behaviour & Diet

The gilded sapphire appears generally sedentary throughout most of its range, though populations in Brazil and adjacent Bolivia undertake migrations; movements elsewhere remain poorly understood. This hummingbird forages for nectar at numerous native and introduced plants, shrubs, and trees at all levels of its habitat. Beyond nectar, it supplements its diet by hawking insects from a perch and gleaning spiders from their webs. Breeding in Brazil occurs from September to February. Females construct tiny cup nests from plant seed fibers and cobweb, decorated externally with lichen and leaf fragments, typically placing them on thin horizontal branches or in forks 4 to 6 metres above ground. The female incubates two eggs for 14 to 15 days, with fledging occurring 20 to 28 days after hatching. The species produces a distinctive high-pitched, cricket-like trilling song and a short dry rattle call.

Best Time & Places to See It

The gilded sapphire is considered very common throughout its range, making it a reliable species for observation across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its preference for open, accessible habitats such as gardens, plantations, and savannah edges means it is often encountered near human settlements. The breeding season in Brazil (September to February) offers opportunities to observe nesting behaviour and territorial activity, though breeding seasons in other parts of its range remain undocumented.

Photography Tips

Photographers should focus on capturing the males' iridescent golden-green plumage and signature glittering golden-bronze tail, which are best rendered in bright, directional light. The species' small size and activity in open habitats make it accessible for photography. Patience near flowering plants, gardens, and plantations will yield opportunities to photograph feeding behaviour and perching birds. Early morning light is ideal for showcasing the metallic coloration that defines this species.