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FIERY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD  Panterpe insignis 10–11cm. Fairly

large, stocky, and rather short-billed hummer of humid highland forest,

shrubby edges, adjacent second growth. Feeds low to high and often rather

aggressive at flower patches. Note stocky build, short bill (pinkish below), and

overall dark plumage with sapphire rump and blue tail, small white eyespot;

fiery throat can be frustratingly difficult to see (most extensive in Guanacaste

Mts.). Sexes similar. SOUNDS:  Distinctive. Nasal and twangy downslurred

squeaks when feeding; burry squeaky twitters and harder chatters in interactions.

STATUS:  Common to fairly common, mainly 1500m to timberline, locally

down to 750m (mainly Feb–Jul). (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

TALAMANCA [MAGNIFICENT] HUMMINGBIRD  Eugenes [fulgens] spec­

tabilis 12.5–13.5cm. Large, long-billed hummer of humid highland forest and

edge, adjacent clearings, gardens. Feeds low to high, often aggressive at

flowering trees and feeders. Male often looks dark overall: note long bill, white

eyespot, greenish tail, cf. Fiery-throated Hummingbird. Female best told by

long bill, dingy grayish underparts. SOUNDS: Low, buzzy rasping zzrt in flight;

varied chattering series with similar, rough buzzy quality. Squeaky chatters in

chases. STATUS:  Common to fairly common, mainly 2000m to timberline,

locally down to 1800m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

WHITE-BELLIED MOUNTAIN-GEM  Lampornis hemileucus 9.5–11cm. Dis­

tinctive, fairly large hummer of humid foothill forest and edge, adjacent second

growth. Feeds low to high. Note distinctive combination of large size, white

underparts, and white eyestripe, also bronzy-green tail; male has purple gorget

that often looks dark. Imm. has buffy fringes to upperparts, male throat dull

bronzy. SOUNDS: High, slightly tinny, downslurred tssi; slightly metallic, sharp

squeaky tsieh! steadily from perch, 1–2 notes/sec. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly

common on Caribbean slope, mainly 700–1500m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

*GRAY-TAILED (WHITE-THROATED) [VARIABLE] MOUNTAIN-GEM ​

Lam­p­ornis [castaneoventris] cinereicauda 9.5–11cm. Also known as White-

throated Mountain-gem. Striking, fairly large hummer of humid highland

forest and edge, especially with oaks; ranges to adjacent second growth, semi-

open areas. Feeds low to high, often in canopy. Male distinctive, with striking

face pattern, pale ashy-gray tail (often flashed open in flight); white throat often

has a few purplish feathers, mainly at edges. Female very similar to female

Purple-throated Mountain-gem but tail duller, bronzy green, duller than

uppertail coverts; in areas where both occur, Gray-tailed favors higher elevations.

SOUNDS: Low rough zzirt; short, dry rattled trills in chases. STATUS: Endemic to Talamanca Mts. of Costa

Rica: fairly common to common, mainly 1800–3000m, with some post-breeding movement down to

1500m, mainly May–Sep.

*PURPLE-THROATED [VARIABLE] MOUNTAIN-GEM  Lampornis [castane­

oventris] calolaemus 9.5–10.5cm. Striking, fairly large hummer of humid foothill

and highland forest and edge, ranging to adjacent second growth, semi-open

areas. Feeds low to high, often in canopy. Male distinctive, with striking face

pattern (throat often looks simply dark), dark blue tail. Female very similar to

female Gray-tailed Mountain-gem but tail brighter greenish, not duller than

uppertail coverts; in areas where both occur, Gray-tailed favors higher elevations.

SOUNDS: Slightly liquid, rolled buzzy zrit and lower, rougher, buzzy zzirt. Song a

rapid-paced, complex, buzzy gurgling warble, mostly 4–7 secs. STATUS: Common

to fairly common on both slopes, mainly 800–2500m, s. to n. Talamanca Mts.; some post-breeding

movement down to 300m, mainly May–Sep. (Nicaragua to w. Panama.)