description Amethyst Woodstar Overview
The amethyst woodstar, Philodice amethystina, is a small hummingbird distributed across parts of northern, central, and eastern South America, from Colombia and Venezuela southward to Argentina. The adult male has an iridescent amethyst-colored throat and an elongated, forked tail, while the female has more subdued plumage and pale underparts. It uses forest edges, open woodland, scrub, and flowering habitats, feeding on nectar and small arthropods.
help Amethyst Woodstar FAQ
Where is the Amethyst Woodstar found?
The bird occurs across much of northern, central, and eastern South America, with records from Colombia and Venezuela southward toward Argentina. It is a South American species, not a Mexico or Caribbean hummingbird ([Birds of Colombia](https://birdsofcolombia.com/pages/amethyst-woodstar)).
How can I identify a male Amethyst Woodstar?
The male has a shining amethyst-purple throat, glossy green upperparts, and a deeply forked dark tail. It is a tiny bird, around 7 centimetres long, while females lack the purple throat ([Birds of Colombia](https://birdsofcolombia.com/pages/amethyst-woodstar)).
What does the Amethyst Woodstar eat and where does it forage?
It takes nectar from small flowers and catches tiny insects around forest edges, clearings, scrub, gardens, and flowering shrubs. Its fast, buzzing flight can make it look more like an insect than a large hummingbird ([Birds of Colombia](https://birdsofcolombia.com/pages/amethyst-woodstar)).
Why do some guides use Calliphlox amethystina instead of Philodice amethystina?
IOC and Clements list the species as Calliphlox amethystina, while some catalogs use a different genus treatment. If a field guide shows Calliphlox amethystina, check its taxonomic authority before treating the genus difference as a different bird ([Avibase](https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=0431F843973D7B23)).
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