General Description: Blue-throated Mountain-gems (Lampornis clemenciae) are small green and blue birds with long bills that hover in front of flowers and feed on nectar. For hummingbirds, Blue-throated Hummingbirds are quite large with slow wing-beats.

In both genders, crown is green, and the face is dark with white stripes above and below eyes. The back is green, and the front is gray. The tail is dark blue with white outer tips. Adult males have a bright blue gorget.

Taxonomy: Apodiformes, Trochilidae, Trochilinae. Formerly Blue-throated Hummingbird.

Favored Habitat: Open woodlands and shrubby areas primarily in pine-oak and deciduous woodland in Mexican highlands.

Where to Find: Don't look for Blue-throated Hummingbirds around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in the mountains of Mexico and in streamside habitats in canyons of Southeastern Arizona mountains. These birds are fairly common around Portal, Arizona during spring and summer.

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