Trinidad: Black-throated Mango

Trinidad-Tobago bird are of course different from those in the U.S, and many are different from those in Central America, since Trinidad is very close to Venezuela. We saw about 180 species there, 70 of them new for us.

The Black-throated Mango is a medium-sized, and striking to view on the rare occasions when it sits still, as it did during the shower at Theo Ferguson's "Yerette". There are 7 "Mango" hummers, comprising the genus Antracothorax. The Black-throated ranges down to Brazil, whereas some of the others are limited to Caribbean islands.

Hummingbird common names are interesting. Of the 18 species seen in the U.S., fully 16 have the word "hummingbird" as part of the common name. Quite the opposite in Trinidad-Tobago, where only 2 of 17 species have "hummingbird" in their name. They include: Hermits (3), Jacobins (1), Sabrewings (1), Violetears (1), Mangos (2), Coquettes (1), Saphires (1), Emeralds (2), Goldenthroats (1), Starthroats (1) and Woodstars (1), plus the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird and the Copper-rumped Hummingbird.

Note here how the black of the throat continues down to the abdomen, attractively outlined with bright blue on the neck and chest. The wine colors of the tail are distractingly pretty, although not seen brightly here. The female has a black stripe from throat down to abdomen, outlined in white. Green-throated Mango similar, but of course it has a green throat in decent light. I missed that one!