Scintillant Hummingbird (Selasphorus scintilla)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Selasphorus ("flame carrying") scintilla ("scintillant")

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

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2g  /  Length: 6.5-8cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the smallest birds on earth with only a handful of other hummingbirds smaller and at its smallest, a mere 4mm larger than the bee hummingbird, the very smallest. A close relation of the Volcano Hummingbird also found across a similar range, though at higher elevations - the females can only be reliably separated by seeing the underside of their tail. The males however have an irridescent orange gorget which separates them.
 

Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Selasphorus
SUBSPECIES: N/A
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican)- Colibrí chispita gorginaranja ("Sparkling orange-throated Hummingbird")

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

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

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Talamanca Hummingbird (Eugenes spectabilis)

OTHER NAMES: Admirable Hummingbird
Latin Etymology: Eugenes ("noble") spectabilis ("remarkable") 

Talamanca Hummingbird (Eugenes spectabilis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8.5-10g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, as endemic of the Talamancan Montane Forest habitat, almsot endemic to Costa Rica, just extending over slightly into Panama. They primarily occur from 2000m altitude upwards but get more common above 2500m, particularly in oak forests. They were only split from Rivoli's Hummingbird in 2017, and BirdLife still considers them a subspecies of such, which in turn is how the IUCN considers them. 

Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Eugenes
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Colibrí de la Talamanca
Endemic to the Talamancan Montane Forest
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

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

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Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii)

OTHER NAMES: Prevost's Mango
Latin Etymology:  Anthracothorax ("coal chest") prevostii (for naturalist Florent Prévost)

Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Anthracothorax prevostii gracilirostris
Weight: 5.7-7g  /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species that reaches its Southernmost range in Costa Rica, in parrallel with a discontinuous range in Venezuela. While the male is irridescent green with a purple-blue throat, the female has a pale underside with a thin black stripe running vertically down her length in the middle making them appear visually very distinct.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Anthracothorax
SUBSPECIES: A. p. prevostii, A. p. gracilirostris, A. p. hendersoni, A. p. viridicordatus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Manguito Pechiverde
A resident of Northern lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

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

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Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Amazilia (for a character in a novel) tzacatl (figure from Aztec myth)

Juvenile Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazilia tzacatl tzacatl
Weight: 5g  /  Length: 9-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and adaptable of Costa Rican hummingbirds, even found in urban streets of the capital where suitable foodsources are available. The female bird is solely responsible for nesting and not only builds the nest but incubates and caring for the chicks on her own. They are believed to actually benefit to some degree from human caused habitat change as they prefer more open spaces. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
SUBSPECIES: A. t. tzacatl, A. t. handleyi, A. t. fuscicaudata, A. t. brehmi, A. t. jucunda

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Amazilia Rabirrufa

A common species in lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela and San Jose 

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

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White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lampornis ("bright bird") castaneoventris ("chestnut brown belly")

White-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis castaneoventris) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Lampornis castaneoventris castaneoventris
Weight: 5-6g/kg  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A Talamancan Montane Forest endemic with unresolved taxonomy - some consider the Grey-tailed Mountaingem of Southern Costa Rica to be a subspecies of the White-throated while other consider then to be a species in their own right. The male and female are very visually distinct with the the male having a bright white throat while the female has an orange throat and chest, and is extremely similar to females of certain other species in Lampornis. It is found from 1500m altitude and replaced at lower ones by the closely related purple-throated mountain-gem.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Lampornis
SUBSPECIES: either none or  L. c. castaneoventris, L. c. cinereicauda
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish -  Colibrí Ventricastaño ("Chestnut bellied Hummingbird")

Endemic to Talamancan Montane Forest Ecozone.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

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

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Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Amazilia (for a character in a novel) rutila ("auburn")

 

Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazilia rutila corallirostris
Weight: 5-5.5g  /  Length: 9.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite it being one of the most common of the hummingbirds seen at Tarcoles during my visit, this is right near the Southernmost edge of its range. A distinctive species found at lower elevations, particularly associated forests, its terracotta coloured tail, pink beak and pale orange throat are distinctive and make it fairly easy to pick out compared to other species in its range.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Amazilia
SUBSPECIES: A. r. diluta, A. r graysoni, A. r. rutila, A. r. corallirostris
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 

Found in North West of Country.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

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

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Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Panterpe ("all delightful") insignis ("marked")

 

Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Panterpe insignis insignis
Weight: 4.9-5.2g  /  Length: 10.5-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Another endemic hummingbird of the Talamancan Montane Forest, in this instance with the vast majority of their range being within Costa Rica. Much of the colouration visible in the picture is the result of irridescence and thus not visible at all angles, with even the namesake fiery-throat not always being readily visible at all angles.

 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Panterpe
SUBSPECIES: P. i. eisenmannim P. i. insignis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Colibrí Insigne 

Endemic to the Talamancan Montane Forest Ecozone
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

 

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

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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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Blue-vented Hummingbird (Saucerottia hoffmanni)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Saucerottia (for Antoine Sorcerotte) hoffmanni (for naturalist Karl Hoffman?)

Blue-vented Hummingbird (Saucerottia hoffmanni) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 4.4g/kg  /  Length: 8-11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A species with a small range in Western Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and a  recent split from the Steely-vented Hummingbird which has a dijunct range primarily in Colombia. However, the IUCN follows one of the few taxonomic systems to have not split it and therefore it hasn't been assessed.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Saucerottia

SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Amazilia "Blue Amazilia"
Found in the North West of the Country
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles.

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

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Blue-throated Goldentail (Chlorestes eliciae)

OTHER NAMES: Blue-throated Sapphire, Elicia's Goldentail
Latin Etymology: Chlorestes ("bearer of green") eliciae (for Madame Elicia Alain)

Blue-throated Goldentail (Chlorestes eliciae) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Chlorestes eliciae eliciae
Weight: 3.6g  /  Length: 9cm  /  Wingspan: 12cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A hummingbird of Central American lowlands, with a distinctive straight bright pink beak with a black tip. They are relatively tolerant of degraded habitats and their overall population is currently believed to be generally stable. It was formerly considered to be a member of the genus Hylocharis and some sources still seem to categorise it as such.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Chlorestes
SUBSPECIES: C. e. eliciae, C. e. earina
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Zafiro de Elicia ("Elicia's Sapphire") 

Widespread in Western Lowlands and North
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

 

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

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Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus)

OTHER NAMES: Mountain Violetear
Latin Etymology: Colibri (Caribbean indiginous word for shining) cyanotus (Blue eared)

Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Colibri cyanotus cabanidis
Weight: 4.8-5.6g  /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: 12cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A fairly recent split from the Mexican Violetear with which it previous shared the name "Green Violetear". A resident of higher elevations such as cloud forest where it's range is patchily spread down the Northern half of the Andres in addition to the disjunct population in Costa Rica and Panama.  It has the accolade of being the fastest recorded hummingbird, having been clocked at 140km/hr during a chase.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Colibri
SUBSPECIES: C. c. cabanidis, C. c. crissalis, C. c. cyanotus, C. c. kerdeli
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Colibrí Oreja Violeta Menor

A fairly common species at higher altitudes.

- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

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

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Archilochus (named for Greek poet) colubris ("Hummingbird")  

Adult male Ruby-throated Humingbird (Archilochus colubris) in Wisconsin - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2-6g  /  Length: 7-9cm  /  Wingspan: 8-11cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most widely distributed of the US hummingbirds and the only one primarily found in the West of North America, the Ruby-throated is an adaptable species found from Canada to Texas in Summer, and Wintering in Mexico, Central America and Southern Florida.  Named for the throat plumage or gorget of the smaller male, which is irridescent red when fully developed.

Related Species:
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Archilochus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

A common breeding visitor to the Western United States
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois and Wisconsin

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

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Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Calypte (unclear etymology) anna (named for Anna Princesse d'Essling)  

Male Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) at Berkeley, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.8-5.7g  /  Length: 3.9-4.3cm  /  Wingspan: 12cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Anna's Hummingbird were the most ubiquitous hummingbird species we encountered in California, and indeed, one of the most commonly encountered species on the whole trip. Their presence was often given away by their metallic calls from within bushes, on the occassion a Sharp-shinned hawk passed through the scrubby area we were in it was stunning how many of these little birds not only emerged, but proceeded to harry the hawk!

Related Species:
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Trochilidae
Genus: Calypte
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in West Coast States, Arizona and New Mexico, with their Wintering Range heading frther East
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and San Francisco

 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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