Sapphire-spangled Emerald

The Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Amazilia lactea, is a species of hummingbird that occurs in Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil from the Amazon south to Santa Catarina. Both male and female have a bright "sapphire" blue chest and chin and green-blue abdomen with a well-delineated white stripe. The bill is almost straight with a black upper mandible and pink lower mandible. The Emerald is found in forest edges, mountainous regions and gardens in urban areas.

The species has an estimated range of 1,500,000 km², and while its population size is uncertain, it is believed to be large since it has been described as "frequent" in at least some parts of its range . It is not considered to be in decline and has been therefore evaluated as Least concern.

It is depicted on the reverse side of the discontinued 1-Brazilian Real banknote.

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