Stripe-breasted Starthroat

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Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Heliomaster squamosus
  • Spanish Name: Colibrí gorjirrayado
  • Family: Trochilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Scaly-breasted Starthroat, Stripe-breasted Starthroat
  • Average Length: 11–12 cm / 4.3–4.7 in
  • Average Weight: 6–8 g / 0.21–0.28 oz
  • Wingspan: N/A
  • Key Feature: Iridescent green upperparts, white malar stripe, and a prominent white stripe bordered by black on the breast
  • Primary Diet: Nectarivore (primarily nectar, with some small insects)
  • Range: Eastern and central Brazil, from Maranhão and Ceará south to São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Habitat: Open woodlands, savannas (Cerrado), forest edges, gardens, and plantations
  • Social Structure: Solitary
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest built on a horizontal branch, often in a shrub or small tree
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Stripe-breasted Starthroat (*Heliomaster squamosus*) is a dazzling hummingbird endemic to Brazil, renowned for its iridescent emerald-green upperparts and a striking, scaly pattern of white and green on its breast—a feature that gives it both its common and scientific names. Its most captivating attribute is a brilliant, fiery red throat patch (gorget) that flashes like a jewel in the sunlight, complemented by a long, slightly decurved bill perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from tubular flowers. Unique among its relatives, this species possesses a distinctive white stripe that runs from the base of its bill, past the eye, and down the side of the neck, setting it apart from other starthroats. Despite its vivid coloration, it is a master of camouflage in the dry forests and woodlands it inhabits, often perching motionless on high exposed branches before launching into rapid, buzzing flights.

Fun Facts

The Stripe-breasted Starthroat has a bizarre feeding trick: it sometimes stabs flowers with its long, needle-like bill to steal nectar without pollinating, a behavior known as "nectar robbing." Its iridescent throat patch is not just for show—males can flash it like a strobe light during courtship by angling their feathers to catch the sun. This bird is also a master of hovering, capable of staying perfectly still in mid-air while extending its tongue, which is twice as long as its beak, deep into tubular blooms. Despite its flashy appearance, it is notoriously shy and will often vanish into the canopy the moment a human appears, only to resume feeding from a hidden perch.

Habitats & Distribution

This hummingbird is endemic to Brazil, with its distribution centered on the eastern and southeastern regions of the country. Its range extends from southern Bahia and Minas Gerais south through Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, reaching into northern Paraná. It primarily inhabits humid and semi-deciduous forests, including Atlantic Forest fragments, as well as forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth. It is also found in more open environments such as gardens, plantations, and cerrado woodlands, typically from lowlands up to elevations around 1,000 meters.

Behaviours & Reproduction

The Stripe-breasted Starthroat is generally solitary, with males defending feeding territories rich in nectar-producing flowers, which they aggressively patrol against other hummingbirds and insects. During the breeding season, males perform a display flight for females, ascending high and diving while producing a sharp, metallic wing whistle to attract a mate. There is no pair bond; the male provides no parental care, and the female alone constructs a small, cup-shaped nest of plant down and spider webs, typically on a horizontal branch. She lays two white eggs and incubates them for about 15–16 days, then feeds the chicks by regurgitating nectar and small arthropods until they fledge after roughly 20–24 days. A unique reproductive strategy is the female’s ability to enter a torpor state at night, reducing her metabolic rate to conserve energy for egg production and chick-rearing, especially when food resources are scarce.

Diet

The Stripe-breasted Starthroat is a specialized nectarivore, feeding primarily on the high-energy nectar of tubular flowers, particularly those from plants in the families Acanthaceae, Rubiaceae, and Bromeliaceae. It uses its long, extendable tongue to lap up nectar while hovering, and it often defends rich flower patches from other hummingbirds. An interesting fact is that, like many hummingbirds, it supplements its diet with small arthropods such as spiders and insects, which provide essential proteins and fats, especially during the breeding season or when nectar is scarce. It has been observed gleaning these prey items from leaves and spider webs, or even catching them in mid-air during short sallies.

Colors

The male Stripe-breasted Starthroat has a vibrant iridescent green back and crown, a deep violet-blue throat and chest, and a white belly with bold black vertical stripes. Its long, straight black bill is distinctive, and it shows a white postocular stripe behind the eye. The female is similar but duller, lacking the vivid throat patch. No specific camouflage adaptations are noted beyond the cryptic green upperparts that blend with foliage.

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