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THORNTAIL AND COQUETTES

(3+ species). Very small and easily overlooked hummers with

bold white rump band, ornate male plumage. Typically hover with tail cocked above back, when can be

mistaken for a large bee or sphinx moth, and vice versa. Feed low to high, often in canopy of flowering

trees where easily overlooked; rarely visit feeders, but—like many smaller hummers—often found at

ornamental verbena bushes (see photo on p. 15). Usually rather quiet; males perch on thin bare twigs in

canopy or subcanopy, from which they may sing quietly or make display flights.

GREEN THORNTAIL  Discosura conversii Male 9.5–11cm, female 7–7.5cm.

Distinctive, very small hummer of humid foothill forest and edge, adjacent

second growth. Feeds low to high, often in low ornamental bushes. See intro

note. Note small size, overall dark plumage with white rump band; male has

long, wire-like tail feathers, female and imm. have broad white mustache and big

white flank patch. Imm. male variably intermediate between female and adult

male. SOUNDS: Mostly quiet. High soft chips in interactions. STATUS: Uncommon

on Caribbean slope, mainly 700–1500m; ranges mainly Jun–Aug to adjacent

lowlands. (Costa Rica to w. Ecuador.)

BLACK-CRESTED COQUETTE  Lophornis helenae 6.5–7cm. Tiny hummer

of humid forest and edge, adjacent clearings and second growth with flowering

trees, mainly in foothills. See intro note. Distinctive, with broad white rump

band, coarse bronzy spotting on underparts, short reddish bill. Imm. male

variably intermediate between female and adult male. SOUNDS: Mostly quiet.

Quiet chips and high twitters sometimes when feeding. Song from perch a

clear, upslurred tsuwee, repeated. STATUS:  Locally/seasonally uncommon to

scarce on Caribbean slope, mainly 300–1200m; wanders to adjacent lowlands,

rarely to Pacific slope in Central Valley. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)

WHITE-CRESTED COQUETTE  Lophornis adorabilis 6.5–7cm. Tiny hummer

of humid forest and edge, adjacent clearings and second growth with flowering

trees, mainly in foothills. See intro note. Distinctive, with broad white rump

band (tinged cinnamon on juv.), rusty belly; fully adult males with white crest

seen much less frequently than female/imm. plumages. Imm. male variably

intermediate between female and adult male. SOUNDS:  Mostly quiet. High

sharp chips sometimes when feeding. STATUS: Locally/seasonally uncommon to

scarce on s. Pacific slope, mainly 300–1800m; rare but apparently regular

(mainly Jun–Nov) in cen. Caribbean foothills, mostly around 1000m. (Costa

Rica to w. Panama.)

VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD  Klais guimeti 7.5–8cm. Small, very

short-billed hummer of humid foothill forest and edge, adjacent second growth.

Feeds low to high, often in canopy and at ornamental verbena bushes. Singing

males gather at edges or gaps in forest, perching on bare twigs in open subcanopy.

Flight notably quick and darting. Distinctive, although violet-blue on head can

be hard to see: note small size and short straight bill, bold white eyespot. Imm.

male resembles female but crown duller, greenish blue, throat often with some

violet feathers. SOUNDS: High, slightly liquid rolled chips, at times run into

rattled trills. Song a high, thin twittering phrase, repeated insistently, tsi-s-sii

tsi-s-sii..., or tiz-i-zit tiz-i-zit.…STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common; mainly 300–1600m on Pacific

slope (very rarely wandering to 3000m), 50–1200m on Caribbean slope. (Honduras to S America.)