Birds Active during the day

Black-throated Mango

Anthracothorax nigricollis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A shimmering gem of the Neotropics, the Black-throated Mango is a bold hummingbird known for its striking velvety plumage and fearless personality. Easily identified by its distinct black chest markings, it is a frequent and welcome visitor to backyard gardens across South America.

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Quick Identification

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Size

10.2 cm (4 in) in length; weighs approximately 7g (0.25 oz)

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Colors

Iridescent green upperparts; males have velvety black throat and breast bordered by blue-green; females have white underparts with a wide black central stripe.

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Key Features

Broad velvety black patch on throat and chest (males)
White underparts with a striking central black stripe (females)
Long, slightly decurved black bill
Dark purplish-red outer tail feathers

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily nectar from flowering trees and shrubs, supplemented by small insects and spiders caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.

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Habitat Open country, forest edges, second-growth forests, suburban gardens, and parks.

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Where Does the Black-throated Mango Live?

Native to the lush landscapes of Central and South America, the Black-throated Mango thrives across a vast territory starting from Panama and extending through nearly every mainland South American country, with the exception of Chile. It is a common resident throughout the tropical lowlands of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, and is also widely spotted across the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. This bird's ability to adapt to various open environments has made it one of the most widely distributed hummingbirds in the Neotropics.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

13 Countries

14.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

BR Brazil CO Colombia VE Venezuela PA Panama PE Peru BO Bolivia AR Argentina PY Paraguay EC Ecuador GY Guyana SR Suriname French Guiana TT Trinidad and Tobago

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 2,000 m

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Black-throated Mango is known for its bold and somewhat aggressive nature, frequently defending prized nectar sources from other hummingbirds. Unlike many smaller, shy hummingbirds that stay hidden in the canopy, this species is highly visible and often chooses exposed, high perches to survey its territory between feeding bouts.

They are remarkable aerialists, capable of hovering with extreme precision to extract nectar or 'hawking' for small insects mid-air. While generally solitary, they are highly adaptable and have become a familiar sight in human-altered landscapes, readily visiting backyard gardens and artificial feeders where they often establish dominance over smaller species.

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Camera Tips

To capture the stunning iridescence of the Black-throated Mango, position your camera at a height of 5 to 7 feet, ideally aimed at a high-volume nectar source like a hummingbird feeder or a cluster of tubular flowers such as Hibiscus. Because these birds are relatively large for hummingbirds and often perch in the open, an angle that catches the morning or late afternoon sun will help highlight the velvety black chest of the male or the crisp white-and-black contrast of the female.

Use a high-speed trigger setting if available, as their movements are incredibly fast. If you are using a feeder to attract them, place the camera approximately 3 to 4 feet away to ensure the bird fills the frame without triggering a 'fright' response. Setting your camera to burst mode is essential; you will likely need dozens of frames to get that one perfect shot of their wings in a graceful position or their tongue extended while feeding.

Since they are active throughout the day, ensure your camera is positioned to avoid direct backlight during peak feeding hours in the early morning and late afternoon. If your camera allows for video, try capturing at 60fps or higher to create beautiful slow-motion clips of their hovering behavior. In many parts of their range, these birds are year-round residents, so keeping your feeders clean and consistently full will help establish your backyard as a reliable territory for a local pair, providing endless photo opportunities.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black-throated Mango.

Green-throated Mango

The Green-throated Mango male has a glittering green throat center, whereas the Black-throated male has a solid velvety black throat.

Green-breasted Mango

Found mostly in Mexico and Central America; the male has less extensive black on the chest compared to the Black-throated Mango.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Black-throated Mangoes are most active during the early morning (6-10 AM) and late afternoon (3-6 PM) when nectar production in flowers is typically at its peak and temperatures are cooler.

You can attract them by planting native tubular flowers like Erythrina, Hibiscus, or Heliconia. They also readily visit red-colored hummingbird feeders filled with a standard 4:1 water-to-sugar nectar solution.

Their diet consists mainly of floral nectar, which provides energy for flight, and small protein-rich insects or spiders that they catch mid-air or pluck from leaves.

Yes, they are highly adaptable and are frequently found in suburban gardens, urban parks, and agricultural plantations throughout their South American range.

While similar, the male Black-throated Mango has a much larger and more distinct velvety black patch that extends further down the breast, whereas the Green-breasted Mango (found further north) has more green on the sides of the throat.

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