- Selasphorus scintilla
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 species
The similar male Volcano Hummingbird has different color of gorget, while female has tail tipped white and in addition, the central pair of tail feathers are green in Volcano and similar to the other feathers in Scintillant.
Distribution
Costa Rica and Panama
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species
Habitat
Brushy forest edges, coffee plantations and gardens.
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.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
