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Costa Rican Hummingbird - ID please (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TonyC
- Start date
Dave B Smith
Well-known member
Tony,
I think you are right on this one. Your location was at 3,000 ft which is the right elevation for the Sabrewing. Probably a juvenile female (juv male shows purple throat). ID is size (almost 6") - you suggested it was large but I can't really tell from the photo, then it should have a small white post ocular spot - not clear from attached photo but appears to be there. Juv female is similar to adult female but has greyish undersides - again appears to fit. Decurved bill is stronger in the female also. My reference was Howell's Birds of Mexico. Pictures and descriptions in Stile's Birds of Costa Rica were not as good.
I have seen and photographed an adult male Violet Sabrewing in Costa Rica (Monte Verde). They are beautiful!
I think you are right on this one. Your location was at 3,000 ft which is the right elevation for the Sabrewing. Probably a juvenile female (juv male shows purple throat). ID is size (almost 6") - you suggested it was large but I can't really tell from the photo, then it should have a small white post ocular spot - not clear from attached photo but appears to be there. Juv female is similar to adult female but has greyish undersides - again appears to fit. Decurved bill is stronger in the female also. My reference was Howell's Birds of Mexico. Pictures and descriptions in Stile's Birds of Costa Rica were not as good.
I have seen and photographed an adult male Violet Sabrewing in Costa Rica (Monte Verde). They are beautiful!
stephennj
Well-known member
Just for kicks I'd like everyone to take a second look at a very old thread. After visiting Rancho last month and seeing Green-breasted Mango there I'm wondering if the photo in question is in fact a female GBM ?
That distinctive stripe seems to go all the way down the belly and I see little evidence of a postocular spot and white outer tail tips as in fem. Violet Sabrewing. Can you convince me as well that this is a fem. Violet Sabrewing ?
That distinctive stripe seems to go all the way down the belly and I see little evidence of a postocular spot and white outer tail tips as in fem. Violet Sabrewing. Can you convince me as well that this is a fem. Violet Sabrewing ?
tomjenner
Well-known member
I don't have access to my books at the moment to check out the details, but these photos seem to show that it is a Green-breasted Mango. I have included a photo of mine of a Green-breasted Mango (in flight) and three photos of sitting Violet Sabrewings courtesy of the Salvanatura photo collection that were taken by Jenifer Smith.
Tom
Tom
Attachments
madamcoolpix
a.k.a. Madam Butterfly
Hi, Tony and the others! :hi:
For me there is no doubt about the Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii). Female Violet Sabrewing is a completely different bird, even if she still has curved bill. I have a pic of a lady Mango taken at Rancho Naturalista in my gallery, there you can check the similarity of both girls.
Cheers!
For me there is no doubt about the Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii). Female Violet Sabrewing is a completely different bird, even if she still has curved bill. I have a pic of a lady Mango taken at Rancho Naturalista in my gallery, there you can check the similarity of both girls.
Cheers!
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