Philodice bryantae
The Magenta-throated Woodstar (Philodice bryantae) is a diminutive and dazzling jewel of the Central American highlands, renowned for the male's spectacular iridescent plumage. Measuring a mere 7-8 cm (2.8-3.1 inches) in length and weighing around 2.5-3.5 grams, it is among the smallest hummingbirds in its range. The adult male boasts a brilliant, shimmering magenta gorget that glows with shifting colors, contrasting sharply with its metallic green back, white post-ocular stripe, and buffy fl...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, and their edges in Central America. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,000 meters, occasionally venturing higher or lower depending on floral resources.
The primary diet consists of nectar, extracted by hovering from a variety of small, often understory flowers. They also actively capture small insects and spiders, either by hawking them in mid-air or gleaning them from vegetation.
Magenta-throated Woodstars are primarily solitary birds, especially outside of the breeding season, often perching inconspicuously at middle to upper forest strata. Males are fiercely territorial, defending patches of flowering plants with aggressive aerial chases and high-pitched vocalizations a...
The Magenta-throated Woodstar is endemic to the humid highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. Its primary distribution spans the Talamanca Mountain Range, extending from central Costa Rica southeastward into the Chiriquà Highlands of western Panama. This species is predominantly found at elev...
Least Concern
- The Magenta-throated Woodstar is one of the smallest bird species found in its native Costa Rica and Panama, barely larger than a large bee. - Its scientific name, *bryantae*, honors Elizabeth Bryant, an American ornithologist and collector from the late 19th century. - Males possess one of the...