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RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD  Amazilia tzacatl 9.5–10.5cm. Most

common and widespread Costa Rican hummer of lowlands and foothills. Favors

humid forest edge, gardens and other semi-open areas, gallery forest. Feeds low

to high; often fairly aggressive at flower patches. Males sing alone or in loose

gatherings, mainly in early morning. Only medium-size, green-breasted, and

rusty-tailed hummer in Costa Rica. Male has red bill, iridescent throat and

chest, buffy-gray belly; female has dark maxilla, duller throat and chest, pale

grayish belly. Chest can look scaly, cf. larger Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

(p. 216), and often rather blue-toned, cf. smaller Blue-chested and Charming

Humminbirds. SOUNDS: Hard to sharp staccato chips from perch and when feeding, typically a higher

nasal tük tük…on Pacific slope, and noticeably different, harder clicking chips on Caribbean slope;

downslurred rattled trill when agitated, 1–2 secs. High rapid twitters in chases. Varied song an unhurried

short medley of high, thin, slightly squeaky to lisping notes, 2–3 secs. STATUS: Common to fairly common

on both slopes, locally to 1800m, least numerous in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to n. S America.)

BLUE-VENTED [STEELY-VENTED] HUMMINGBIRD  Saucerrotia (Amazilia)

[saucerottei] hoffmanni 9–9.5cm. Medium-size hummer of lowland and foothill

woodland and edge, plantations, gardens. Feeds low to high, from roadside

flower banks to canopy; males sing alone from low to mid-level perches.

Distinctive if seen well, with diagnostic deep blue tail (often looks simply dark

when closed). Male has glittering green underparts with white thigh tufts, deep

blue undertail coverts; female duller green below, undertail coverts edged dusky

buff. SOUNDS: Hard, ticking, downslurred tsik, distinct from Pacific Rufous-

tailed Hummingbird, often repeated steadily when feeding; dry rattled trills

when agitated. Song a short, rather simple, high squeaky phrase, repeated, such as tsirr seen seen.

STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, rarely to 1800m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

BLUE-THROATED GOLDENTAIL (SAPPHIRE)  Chlorestes (Hylocharis) eliciae

8.5–9cm. Small hummer of humid lowland forest and woodland, gallery forest,

second growth, gardens. Feeds low to high, from canopy to low in ornamental

verbena plantings; males often gather to sing throughout day from perches at

mid–upper levels in fairly open but shady subcanopy. Note small size (smaller

than Rufous-tailed Hummingbird), bright red bill, greenish-gold tail. Despite

the colorful name, can appear rather dull unless seen in the right light (see p.

213). Cf. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. SOUNDS:  High sharp sik in flight.

Varied song a high, lisping, short rhythmic twitter, typically 1–2 secs, repeated.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally in nw. lowlands and on s. Pacific slope, scarce elsewhere, to

1000m. (Mexico to n. Colombia.)

CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD  Amazilia rutila 9.5–10cm. Distinctive,

medium-size hummer of lowland deciduous forest and edge, semi-open areas

with hedgerows, gardens; mainly in drier regions. Feeds low to high, often fairly

aggressive; singing males sometimes in small loose gatherings at low to mid-

levels. No similar species in Costa Rica: note wholly cinnamon underparts,

rusty tail. Viewed from behind, cf. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, which prefers

humid areas. Sexes similar; imm. has mostly dark maxilla. SOUNDS: Fairly rough

dry chips and rattling chatters. Varied song a short medley of high, thin, slightly

squeaky notes. STATUS: Fairly common to common on n. Pacific slope, locally

to 1200m in Central Valley. (Mexico to Costa Rica.)