Anthocephala floriceps
The Santa Marta Blossomcrown (*Anthocephala floriceps*) is a diminutive and dazzling hummingbird, measuring just 8.3-9.0 cm (3.3-3.5 in) in length and weighing a mere 3-4 grams. Its most striking feature is the iridescent crown patch, which is brilliant blue-violet in males and greenish-gold in females, hence its 'blossomcrown' moniker. Both sexes display glossy green upperparts, a distinctive white post-ocular stripe, and pale underparts, though females tend to be duller overall. This unique...
Found primarily in humid montane evergreen forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 900 and 2,000 meters. It can also utilize secondary growth and shaded coffee plantations.
Feeds predominantly on nectar from a variety of small, often epiphytic, flowers, and supplements its diet by hawking small insects in flight.
This diurnal hummingbird is often observed actively foraging throughout the day, employing a trap-lining strategy where it visits a circuit of favored flowers. Males are generally territorial, fiercely defending rich nectar sources or prime perching spots with aggressive chases and vocalizations....
The Santa Marta Blossomcrown has a highly disjunct distribution across specific montane regions of Colombia and Venezuela. The nominate subspecies, *Anthocephala floriceps floriceps*, is strictly endemic to the isolated Santa Marta Mountains in northern Colombia. The other subspecies, *Anthocepha...
Vulnerable
- The Santa Marta Blossomcrown is one of the smallest hummingbirds in its range, a true avian jewel weighing less than a U.S. penny. - Its genus name, *Anthocephala*, translates to 'flower head,' a fitting tribute to its vibrant, blossom-like crown. - This species is endemic to restricted mountai...