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MAGENTA-THROATED WOODSTAR  Philodice (Calliphlox) bryantae) Male

8.5–9.5cm, female 7.5–8cm. Attractive small hummer of humid foothill forest

and edge, adjacent second growth and clearings. Feed low to high, and can be

territorial at flower patches. Hovering flight rather slow and deliberate, typical-

ly with tail cocked above back, when could be mistaken for a large bee or

sphinx moth. Distinctive, with bold whitish patches at sides of rump, in-

sect-like flight. Cf. smaller Scintillant Hummingbird, which has ‘typical’ quick

flight. SOUNDS: Low cht, sometimes doubled or in short series, and longer

rolled chrrrt. Wings make rather strong low humming in flight. STATUS: Un-

common to fairly common on Pacific slope, mainly 700–1800m; spills over locally to adjacent Caribbean

slope foothills. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD  Archilochus colubris 8–9cm. Small

migrant hummer of varied open and semi-open habitats, from coastal scrub to

humid forest edge, hedgerows, plantations, weedy fields with flowers. Feeds and

perches low to high, often rather inconspicuously. Adult male distinctive

(gorget often looks dark), note forked blackish tail; female rather plain, but

note white tail tips, white eyespot, black bill, whitish underparts. Imm. male in

fall resembles female, attains adult plumage over winter. SOUNDS: High twangy

tchi, at times doubled; varied twitters in interactions. STATUS: Uncommon to

fairly common Nov–Mar on n. Pacific slope, uncommon to scarce elsewhere,

locally to 1800m; more widespread in migration, Sep–Oct, Feb–Apr. (Breeds N America, winters Mexico

to w. Panama.)

SCINTILLANT HUMMINGBIRD  Selasphorus scintilla 6–7cm. Tiny highland

hummer of second growth, overgrown pastures, forest edge, gardens, hedgerows.

Feeding flight quick, often clinging and piercing flower bases; territorial males

perch atop shrubs adjacent to open areas with flowers. Note male gorget color,

mostly orangey tail, cf. slightly larger Volcano Hummingbird. Imm. female has

central pair of tail feathers mostly green, margined rusty; other tail feathers

bright rusty with black subterminal band, cinnamon to whitish tips to outer 3

pairs. In display, male zigzags to 15–20m and swoops in U trajectory, less steep

than Volcano Hummingbird dives. SOUNDS: High, rather soft downslurred chips

when feeding; twitters in interactions. Male wings produce high shrill trill in flight. In dive, male makes

pulsating wing trills plus a stuttering 7–8-syllable clicking at bottom of dive. STATUS: Uncommon to locally

common in highlands, mainly 900–2100m on Pacific slope, ranging and wandering locally to Caribbean

slope; post-breeding movements rarely up to 2500m, mainly Apr–Aug. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

VOLCANO HUMMINGBIRD  Selasphorus flammula 6.5–7.5cm. Very small

highland hummer of shrubby clearings, second growth, páramo, cloud forest

edge, gardens. Habits similar to Scintillant Hummingbird, which occurs along­

­side locally. Scintillant has mostly orangey tail, whereas female/imm. Volcano

has central pair of tail feathers green, adjacent pair mostly green, not rusty;

white to buffy tips to outer 3 pairs; male Scintillant has flame gorget. In

display, male Volcano climbs to 20–25m and dives in steep J or U trajectory.

Complex variation, with 3 populations that have been considered species:

Cerise-throated Hummingbird S. [f.] simoni breeding on Poás and Barva

volcanoes; Heliotrope-throated Hummingbird S. [f.] torridus on Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes;

Purple-throated Hummingbird S. [f.] flammula in Talamanca Mts. SOUNDS: Mostly rather quiet. High

thin chips when foraging; high squeaky chippering in interactions. Male song from perch a high,

downslurred whining whistle, tssiiiiiiiiu, about 2.5 secs, repeated. In dive, male produces wing whistle

plus a stuttering 3–4-syllable low clicking at bottom of dive. STATUS: Fairly common to common, above

1800m in Central Mts., above 2000m in Talamanca Mts. Post-breeding movements rarely down to

1200m, mainly Mar–Jul, when different taxa can occur together, with torridus ranging nw. to Poás

volcano. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)