Volcano Hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Selasphorus ("flame carrying") flammula ("little flame")

 

Female Scintillant Hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica- November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Selasphorus flammula torridus
Weight: 2.5-2.8g  /  Length: 7.5-8cm  /  Wingspan: cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the smallest of all birds, only fractionally larger than the Bee Hummingbird, the record holder for smallest bird species globally. They are found exclusively in the Talamancan Montane Forest, which does indeed consist significantly of dormant volcanos. It is a closely related to the Scintillant Hummingbird, which is found in the same areas but at lower altitudes, although there is overlap.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
SUBSPECIES: S. f. flammula, S. f. torridus, S. f. simoni
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Colibrí Volcanero ("Volcano Hummingbird")

Endemic to the Talamancan Montane Forest Ecoregion
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Common at hummingbird feeders at San Gerardo de Dota

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Selasphorus ("flame carrying") sasin (Wakashan or Nootka name of hummingbird sp)

Juvenile Allen's Hummingbird (subspecies S. s. sasin) at Berkeley, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Selaphorus sasin sasin
Weight: 3g  /  Length: 8-9cm  /  Wingspan: 11cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Allen's Hummingbird is an absolutely tiny birds, only heavier than the worlds smallest bird by a approximately 400 milligrams. They breed on a coastal strip from central Oregon to Southern California, Wintering in a comparatively small area centred around Mexico City. The adult males are substantially more dramatically coloured than the juvenile we saw in the Berkeley Botanic Gardens - being largely opper and irridescent green in colour! 

Related Species:
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
SUBSPECIES: S. s. sasin, S. s. sedentarius

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds near the coast in California and Oregon
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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