From Opus

Selasphorus flammula

Photo by luisrock62
Photo taken: Irazu volcano, Costa Rica.

[edit] Identification

7.5cm. Bronze-green upperparts, rufous-edged black outer tail feathers, grey-purple throat in the Talamanca range, red in the Poas-Barva mountains and pink-purple in the Irazú-Turrialba area, white underparts. The female is similar, but her throat is white with dusky spots. Young birds resemble the female but have buff fringes to the upperpart plumage.

[edit] Distribution

Costa Rica and Panama

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognized for this species: flammula, simoni, and torridus. The subspecies simoni, differing in having a red gorget in the male, has in the past been considered a full species: Cerise-throated Hummingbird.

[edit] Habitat

Found 1800 meters or higher in elevation thru Paramo habitat, brushland, in gardens and clearings.

[edit] Behaviour

The female builds a cup shaped nest from plant down high in a scrub or on a root below a south or east facing bank. 2 white eggs are laid and the female incubaties them for 15-19 days; the young fledge after another 20-26 days.

The diet includes nectar, taken from a variety of small flowers, including Salvia and Fuchsia, and species normally pollinated by insects. It also takes some small insects.

[edit] External Links