Orthorhyncus cristatus
The diminutive Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Orthorhyncus cristatus, is a dazzling jewel of the Caribbean, instantly recognizable by the male's brilliant, iridescent green and blue crest. Measuring a mere 8-9.5 cm (3.1-3.7 inches) in length and weighing just 3-4 grams, it is among the smallest birds in its range. Males boast an emerald green throat and breast, a dark green back, and a distinctive white spot behind the eye, while females are duller, lacking the prominent crest and having a gr...
This species thrives in a variety of open to semi-open habitats, including gardens, cultivated areas, plantations, secondary growth, and forest edges, from sea level up to moderate elevations in montane regions.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, supplementing its diet with small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight while hovering.
Antillean Crested Hummingbirds are highly diurnal, actively foraging from dawn to dusk, and may enter a state of torpor on cold nights to conserve energy. They are fiercely territorial, with males often perching conspicuously on exposed branches to survey and defend their feeding grounds and mate...
The Antillean Crested Hummingbird is a resident species distributed throughout the Lesser Antilles, with its range extending northward to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Two subspecies are recognized: *Orthorhyncus cristatus cristatus* is endemic to Barbados, while *Orthorhyncus cristatus exi...
Least Concern
- The Antillean Crested Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in its range, often weighing less than a U.S. penny. - Its scientific genus name, *Orthorhyncus*, means "straight beak," referring to its relatively short, straight bill. - The male's iridescent crest can appear brilliant green, blu...