What hummingbird is this? (1 Viewer)

[KKBiersdorff]

I have a series of photos of this hummingbird from Rancho Naturalista near Turrialba in Costa Rica in early March 2020. It does not match any birds in my Birds of Costa Rica book exactly. It is close to a female Snowcap, but the bill is too long. The white on the neck and chest do not extend down the entire body, eliminating a few other possibilities. I have been looking at photos online, because the bird book I have is all drawings. My brain hurts. Can anyone help me?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks like a female Coppery-headed Emerald to me, you can just make out, white, tail corners.

 

[KKBiersdorff]

Thanks, andyadcock. That makes sense. I was concerned that the white on the chest did not continue down on my photo compared with the drawing in my bird book. However, I have now Googled the Coppery-headed Emerald (female) and seen a lot of variation on this point. But the bill is right and the flash of turquoise is seen on some of the photos with the same label. The size also seems right as it is one of the smaller hummingbirds. My book also says I was in its range.

 

[THE_FERN]

Looks like a female Coppery-headed Emerald to me, you can just make out, white, tail corners.

I'm not sure it is. For that species, I think we'd expect: shorter, more obviously curved bill; purer white underparts (even allowing for colour cast), probably some indication of a coppery rump (and probably no bluish shoulder patch, at least not of that colour in that location). Instead, my best guess is this is female crowned Woodnymph: also has whitish tail corners.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'm not sure it is. For that species, I think we'd expect: shorter, more obviously curved bill; purer white underparts (even allowing for colour cast), probably some indication of a coppery rump (and probably no bluish shoulder patch, at least not of that colour in that location). Instead, my best guess is this is female crowned Woodnymph: also has whitish tail corners.

I considered that and the bill length but thought the bird looked too small for the Woodnymph.

 

[THE_FERN]

I considered that and the bill length but thought the bird looked too small for the Woodnymph.

I agree it looks small but honestly I don't know how we can reliably judge this in this picture. Of the points I noted, I think bill length/shape and underpart colour the most telling.

 

[Motmot]

Agree with the fern, it is a Crowned Woodnymph.