From Opus

Photo by Jonathan Farmer
Location: Dominica

Cyanophaia bicolor

[edit] Identification

About 9.5 cm (3.75 inches). Male is bluish-green overall, with violet-blue on head, throat, upper breast and tail; tail looks slightly forked. Female has grayish-white underparts and green upperparts except for the tail which has white tail corners and a bluish subterminal band. She also has a blackish earpatch. Lower mandible is reddish with a black tip.

The main confusion in the area will be between the female and a female Antillean Crested Hummingbird. The latter has a bill that is proportionally slightly shorter and all black, and does not show blue on the tail. The two species should be the same size according to measurements, but female Blue-headed Hummingbird gives impression of being a larger bird when seen in the field.

[edit] Distribution

Dominica and Martinique of the Lesser Antilles.

[edit] Taxonomy

The species is monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Higher elevation areas in wet forest and borders.

[edit] Behaviour

Nest is mostly low, up to 8 feet.

[edit] External Links