From Opus

Selasphorus scintilla

Male. Photo by scottishdude
Location: Savegre, Costa Rica, March, 2011

[edit] Identification

6.5 cm. Black bill is short and straight. Bronze-green upperparts, rufous and black-striped tail. brilliant red throat separated from the cinnamon underparts by a white neck band. Female's throat is buff and the underparts are richer rufous. Young birds resemble the female but have rufous fringes to the upperpart plumage. Female has rufous tail with black subterminal band and buff tips; similar Volcano Hummingbird has tail tipped white.

Photo of Female by Stanley Jones
Nueva Suiza, Chiriqui Province, Panama, April, 2012

[edit] Distribution

Costa Rica and Panama

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species

[edit] Habitat

Brushy forest edges, coffee plantations and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

The female builds the tiny cup shaped nest and incubates the 2 white eggs for 15-19 days; fledging occurs after another 20-26 days.

The diet includes nectar; it also takes some small insects as an essential source of protein.

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