The Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus) is a small bird that is breeds in the Lesser Antilles and tropical northern South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to central Brazil. It is the only member of the genus Chrysolampis (Boie, 1831). It is a seasonal migrant, although its movements are not well understood.

This hummingbird inhabits open country, gardens and cultivation. It is 8.1 cm long and weighs 3.5 g. The black bill is short and straight.

The male has green-glossed dark brown upperparts. The crown and nape are glossy red, and the throat and breast are brilliant golden. The rest of the underparts are brown, and the chestnut tail is tipped black. The male often looks dark, until he turns and the brilliant colours flash in the sunlight.

The female Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (depicted above) has bronze-green upperparts and pale grey underparts with a dark chin stripe. The tail is chestnut, tipped white. Immature males are like the female, but there is a white spot behind the eye and the outer tail feathers are violet, tipped white.

The female Ruby-topaz Hummingbird lays two eggs in a tiny cup nest in the fork of a low branch. Incubation takes 16 days, and fledging another 18 or 19.

The food of this species is nectar, taken from a wide variety of flowers, and some small insects. Ruby-topaz Hummingbird males perch conspicuously and defend their territories aggressively. The call of this species is a high-pitched tsip.

References

• Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1