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Difference between revisions of "Snowcap" - BirdForum Opus

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;Microchera albocoronata
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[[Image:Snowcap 060307.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male, subspecies ''parvirostris'' <br />Photo &copy; by {{user|jonlowes|jonlowes}}<br />Rancho Naturalista, [[Costa Rica]]]]
[[Image:Snowcap 060307.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by jonlowes<br />Photo taken: Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica .]]
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;[[: Category:Microchera|Microchera]] albocoronata
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==Identification==
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[[Image:Snowcap_female_by_Birdingcraft.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br /> Photo &copy; by {{user|Birdingcraft|Birdingcraft}}<br />Quebrada Gonzalez, [[Costa Rica]], March 2010]]
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2½ inches. <br />
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Male mostly reddish brown with white crown (down to just above eyes) and white on went and outer tail feathers. <br />
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Female green above, grayish white below, with most of tail white with dark subterminal band rather broad.
  
==Description==
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====Similar Species====
This tiny jewel is local in distribution and is hard to photograph because it stays in the shade and darts in to the feeders for quick drinks, without lingering.
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[[Image:Snowcap__Costa_Rica_SJ.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br /> Photo &copy; by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Tapir Valley Reserve, Bijagua de Upala, Alajuela Province,[[Costa Rica]], July 2023]]
 
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Female of [[Coppery-headed Emerald]] is quite similar to the female [[Snowcap]], but with greenish spots below the eye and on the neck, and with a narrower, less conspicuous dark band on the tail. Of course, the bill if seen well will be conclusive, straight on Snowcap and decurved on the emerald.  
==Identification==
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Snowcap__Costa_Rica_SJ.jpg
==Distribution & Taxonomy==
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==Distribution==
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Local in distribution from [[Honduras]] to western [[Panama]].
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==Taxonomy==
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====Subspecies====
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Two subspecies are  recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''M. a. parvirostris''
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**Honduras to [[Costa Rica]], limited to the Caribbean Slope
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*''M. a. albocoronata''
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**Western part of Panama, found on both slopes
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[[Image:Snowcap_flying_by_Gerald_Friesen.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male feeding in flight<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Gerald+Friesen|Gerald Friesen}}<br />Cartago Province, [[Costa Rica]], February 2013]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Foothills and mountains, mostly along borders and openings in humid forest. Some birds occur lower outside breeding season.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
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This tiny jewel is hard to photograph because it stays in the shade and darts in to the feeders for quick drinks, without lingering.
 
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====Diet====
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Forages from low to mid levels, mostly on small flowers.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/294913/limit/recent ID features] of females were discussed in comments to this image
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{{Ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Microchera+albocoronata}}  
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{{GSearch|"Microchera albocoronata" {{!}} "Snowcap"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
[[Category:Birds]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Microchera]]

Latest revision as of 18:53, 8 August 2023

Male, subspecies parvirostris
Photo © by jonlowes
Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica
Microchera albocoronata

Identification

Female
Photo © by Birdingcraft
Quebrada Gonzalez, Costa Rica, March 2010

2½ inches.
Male mostly reddish brown with white crown (down to just above eyes) and white on went and outer tail feathers.
Female green above, grayish white below, with most of tail white with dark subterminal band rather broad.

Similar Species

Juvenile
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Tapir Valley Reserve, Bijagua de Upala, Alajuela Province,Costa Rica, July 2023

Female of Coppery-headed Emerald is quite similar to the female Snowcap, but with greenish spots below the eye and on the neck, and with a narrower, less conspicuous dark band on the tail. Of course, the bill if seen well will be conclusive, straight on Snowcap and decurved on the emerald. Snowcap__Costa_Rica_SJ.jpg

Distribution

Local in distribution from Honduras to western Panama.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized[1]:

  • M. a. parvirostris
    • Honduras to Costa Rica, limited to the Caribbean Slope
  • M. a. albocoronata
    • Western part of Panama, found on both slopes
Male feeding in flight
Photo © by Gerald Friesen
Cartago Province, Costa Rica, February 2013

Habitat

Foothills and mountains, mostly along borders and openings in humid forest. Some birds occur lower outside breeding season.

Behaviour

This tiny jewel is hard to photograph because it stays in the shade and darts in to the feeders for quick drinks, without lingering.

Diet

Forages from low to mid levels, mostly on small flowers.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. ID features of females were discussed in comments to this image

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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