Checklist of Hummingbirds of
COSTA RICA

The following 54 species of hummingbirds have been reported from COSTA RICA; four species are endemic (one of which is endangered), five are are or accidental, and only one--the Ruby-throated Hummingbird--is migratory.

Taxonomy is after Clements 5th edition (updated 2004).

Click on the word "PHOTOS" below for illustrations of selected hummingbird species.(NOTE: If you have a clear photo of any of the species below and would like to submit it for posting on this Operation RubyThroat Web site, please send it via E-mail to PROJECTS with photographer's name, date & location of photo, and anecdotal info about the bird.)

Species in GREEN have been captured during Operation RubyThroat expeditions to Costa Rica. If you're interested in joining us for the next trip see Hummingbird Expeditions to Costa Rica.

  1. White-tipped Sicklebill, Eutoxeres aquila
  2. Bronzy Hermit, Glaucis aenea
  3. Band-tailed Barbthroat, Threnetes ruckeri
  4. Green Hermit, Phaethornis guy
  5. Western Long-tailed Hermit, Phaethornis longirostris
  6. Stripe-throated Hermit, Phaethornis striigularis
  7. Green-fronted Lancebill, Doryfera ludovicae
  8. Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Phaeochroa cuvierii
  9. Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus
  10. White-necked Jacobin, Florisuga mellivora
  11. Brown Violet-ear, Colibri delphinae
  12. Green Violet-ear, Colibri thalassinus --PHOTOS
  13. Green-breasted Mango, Anthracothorax prevostii --PHOTOS
  14. Violet-headed Hummingbird, Klais guimeti
  15. Rufous-crested Coquette, Lophornis delattrei (Rare or Accidental)
  16. Black-crested Coquette, Lophornis helenae
  17. White-crested Coquette, Lophornis adorabilis
  18. Green Thorntail, Discosura conversii
  19. Garden Emerald, Chlorostilbon assimilis
  20. Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Panterpe insignis
  21. White-tailed Emerald, Elvira chionura
  22. Coppery-headed Emerald, Elvira cupreiceps (Endemic)
  23. Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia
  24. Black-bellied Hummingbird, Eupherusa nigriventris
  25. Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Thalurania colombica
  26. Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Damophila julie
  27. Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Lepidopyga coeruleogularis (Rare or Accidental)
  28. Blue-throated Goldentail, Hylocharis eliciae
  29. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl
  30. Cinnamon Hummingbird, Amazilia rutila
  31. White-bellied Emerald, Agyrtria candida (Rare or Accidental)
  32. Blue-chested Hummingbird, Polyerata amabilis
  33. Charming Hummingbird, Polyerata decora
  34. Mangrove Hummingbird, Polyerata boucardi (Endemic and Endangered)
  35. Steely-vented Hummingbird, Saucerottia saucerrottei
  36. Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanifrons (Rare or Accidental)
  37. Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Saucerottia edward
  38. Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanura (Rare or Accidental)
  39. Snowcap, Microchera albocoronata
  40. White-vented Plumeleteer, Chalybura buffonii
  41. Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Chalybura urochrysia
  42. White-bellied Mountain-gem, Lampornis hemileucus
  43. Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Lampornis calolaema
  44. Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Lampornis cinereicauda (Endemic)
  45. Green-crowned Brilliant, Heliodoxa jacula
  46. Magnificent (Rivoli's) Hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens --PHOTOS
  47. Purple-crowned Fairy, Heliothryx barroti
  48. Plain-capped Starthroat, Heliomaster constantii --PHOTOS
  49. Long-billed Starthroat, Heliomaster longirostris
  50. Magenta-throated Woodstar, Calliphlox bryantae
  51. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (Migratory)--PHOTOS
  52. Scintillant Hummingbird, Selasphorus scintilla
  53. Volcano Hummingbird, Selasphorus flammula
  54. Alfaros Hummingbird, Saucerottia alfaroana (Endemic)

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NOTE: Although Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the primary focus of "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project", we are also interested in other hummingbird species--especially vagrants that appear in winter (mid-October through mid-March) in the eastern U.S. If you know of a wintering hummingbird east of the Mississippi, please report it to the Research Department at Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History. We will contact a local hummingbird bander about capturing the bird, identifying and banding it, and releasing it unharmed.

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