Selasphorus scintilla
The Scintillant Hummingbird (*Selasphorus scintilla*) is a jewel of the Neotropics, holding the distinction as the smallest bird in Costa Rica and Panama, and among the smallest birds in the world. Measuring a mere 6.5 cm (2.6 in) in length and weighing just 2 grams (0.07 oz), this tiny avian marvel possesses an iridescent emerald-green back, buffy to rufous flanks, and a prominent white postocular spot. Males are easily identified by their brilliant, shimmering magenta-red or purplish-red go...
This species primarily inhabits montane cloud forest edges, clearings, second growth, and coffee plantations, typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 2,100 meters (3,900-6,900 ft) above sea level.
Its primary diet consists of nectar from a variety of small, tubular flowers, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders captured in flight or gleaned from vegetation.
Scintillant Hummingbirds are diurnal, solitary birds, exhibiting high metabolic rates that necessitate frequent feeding, often entering a state of torpor on cold nights to conserve energy. They employ a 'trap-lining' foraging strategy, visiting a regular circuit of small, nectar-rich flowers, but...
The Scintillant Hummingbird is a resident species endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, exhibiting no significant migratory movements beyond localized altitudinal shifts. Its breeding range encompasses the higher elevations of Costa Rica's Cordillera Central, including Volcán...
Least Concern
- The Scintillant Hummingbird is the smallest bird found in Costa Rica and Panama, and one of the tiniest avian species globally. - Its heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute during intense activity, and its wings can beat up to 80 times per second. - To survive cold nights, it enters a state o...