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WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN  Florisuga mellivora 11–12cm. Large stocky

hummer of forest edge, adjacent semi-open habitats. Often conspicuous and

aggressive at feeders. Mainly at mid–upper levels, hovering in fairly horizontal

plane with tail slightly cocked, at times flashed open. Male (some females

similar) striking and distinctive, with blue hood, extensively white tail; other

females best identified by chunky shape, thick black bill, scalloped bib and

white belly, cf. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, which has big white tail corners.

Imm. male has variable buffy on face and throat. SOUNDS: Rather quiet; high,

slightly wiry chips and twitters on occasion. STATUS:  Fairly common to

uncommon on both slopes to 1500m, rarely 2000m. (Mexico to S America.)

SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD  Phaeochroa cuvierii 11.5–12.5cm. Large

hummer of forest edge, adjacent clearings and gardens with taller trees, plan­

tations, mangroves. Feeds low to high; mostly sings from high, rather open

perches. Note drab plumage with bold white tail corners, medium-length bill,

white eyespot, dingy buff belly; ‘scaly breast’ rarely apparent. Cf. female White-

necked Jacobin; from below, female Rufous-tailed Hummingbird often looks

scaly-breasted but has brighter reddish mandible, lacks big white tail corners.

Ages/sexes similar. Comprises 2 groups that may intergrade in n. Costa Rica

(study needed): northern Robert’s Hummingbird P. [c.] roberti on n. Caribbean

slope and perhaps in adjacent n. Pacific foothills, with black mandible, duskier bases to outer tail feathers;

southern Cuvier’s Hummingbird P. [c.] cuvierii of Pacific slope and adjacent n. Caribbean slope, with

pinkish base to mandible, bronzy-green bases to outer tail feathers. SOUNDS: Song a variably paced

chanting of varied chips, squeaks, and thin whistles with slightly jerky cadence, at times for 30 secs or

longer; may suggest a euphonia. Sharp chip calls can suggest Yellow Warbler. STATUS: Fairly common to

uncommon, to 1200m. (Mexico to Colombia.)

PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY  Heliothryx barroti 11.5–13cm. Striking hummer

of humid forest and edge, adjacent taller second growth; does not usually visit

feeders. Mainly at mid–upper levels where feeds actively, dashing from flower to

flower or darting for insects; rarely seen perched. Distinctive, with gleaming

white underparts, short pointed bill, black mask, white-sided tail (much longer

on female). Male has violet crown; juv. has sparse dark spotting on breast,

cinnamon edgings to upperparts. SOUNDS: Mostly quiet; high, thin tsik, at

times run into twitters. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes,

locally to 1600m. (Mexico to w. Ecuador.)

GREEN-BREASTED MANGO  Anthracothorax prevostii 11–11.5cm. Large

stocky hummer of open and semi-open areas with taller trees and hedgerows,

gardens, plantations, mangroves, forest edge. Often perches (and nests) con­

spicuously on tall bare branches and twigs. Feeds low to high at flowers and

sometimes defends feeding territories; flashes tail open when hovering. Dis­

tinctive in most of range, with rather thick, arched black bill, bright purple to

coppery purple in tail, dark median stripe on female/imm. underparts; some

females resemble adult male. Cf. very similar Veraguas Mango. SOUNDS: Often

quiet. High sharp chips and twitters on occasion. STATUS: Fairly common in

nw. lowlands, uncommon to fairly common elsewhere but spreading with deforestation; to 1500m. Status

of mangos in areas of overlap with Veraguas Mango awaits elucidation. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

VERAGUAS MANGO  Anthracothorax [prevostii] veraguensis 10.5–11cm.

Counterpart to Green-breasted Mango on s. Pacific slope, in open and semi-

open lowland habitats. Habits like Green-breasted and has been considered

conspecific. All plumages resemble Green-breasted but differ in blue-green to

green median throat and breast (vs. blackish on Green-breasted, but color often

difficult to discern in the field). SOUNDS: High sharp chips, perhaps averaging

harder, more smacking than Green-breasted. STATUS: Uncommon, but spread­

ing with deforestation on s. Pacific slope, to 1500m; first recorded Costa Rica

in late 1990s. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)