According to the International Ornithological Congress (IOC), there are 359 hummingbird species. 290 hummingbird species are native to Ecuador and Columbia. Ecuador alone has 163 hummingbird species. Ecuador has more hummingbird species than any other country.
According to the International Ornithological Congress (IOC), there are 359 hummingbird species. 290 hummingbird species are native to Ecuador and Columbia. Ecuador alone has 163 hummingbird species. Ecuador has more hummingbird species than any other country.
1. The Hermits
The hermits are tropical and subtropical hummingbirds. The hook-billed hermit is an endangered hummingbird species. It is threatened by changing migration patterns and habitat loss.
The saw-billed hermit is found in southeastern Brazil. It is one of the heaviest hermits. It has a straight bill with a hooked tip. It aggressively defends feeding routes from members of its species and other hummingbird species.
The rufous-breasted hermit is a widespread and common hummingbird species. It is commonly found in Bolivia, Panama, Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago.
The dusky-throated hermit is a small hermit with a total length of 9 cm. It has dark streaks on the throat and pale buff underparts. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil.
Location
The hermits occur from southern Mexico, through Central America, to South America. They can be found as far south as northern Argentina.
Facts
• The saw-billed hermit is among the most primitive hummingbird species.
• Most hermits inhabit the edge and undergrowth of forests and woodlands. Some species occur in more open habitats.
• Hermits are differentiated from other hummingbird species by the color of their plumage which is typically grey, green, slightly green, rufous, or brown. They usually don’t have the iridescent plumage of hummingbirds.
• In most species of hummingbirds, the males and females look quite different in appearance. However, for hermits, the physical gender differences are less pronounced.
• Both male and female hermits will aggressively defend a feeding territory.
• Males of most hermit species usually form competitive mating displays during the breeding season to attract females. Their display usually entails singing or wiggling the tail. Oftentimes, the female chooses the best singer.
• Hermits mostly feed on heliconias. However, they will utilize other nectar sources. They also capture small arthropods.
2. Giant Hummingbirds
The largest member of the hummingbird family is the giant hummingbird. It weighs 18-24 g and has a wingspan of 8.5 inches. The giant hummingbird is twice as heavy as the next heaviest hummingbird species and it is ten times heavier than the smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird.
Location
Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador
Giant hummingbirds are widely distributed on the east and west sides of the Andes. During the summer, they inhabit the higher altitude forests and scrublands of the Andes. During winter months, they inhabit lower altitude habitats.
Contact between giant hummingbird subspecies usually occurs around the eastern slopes of the north Peruvian Andes.
Facts
• The global population of the giant hummingbird is less than 10,000 adults. The global extent of this species is estimated at 1,200,000 km2.
• The giant hummingbird is identified by its large size and other features such as large sturdy feet, very long wings, dull coloration, straight bill that is longer than the head, and the presence of an eye-ring.
• The giant hummingbird occasionally slides in flight. This behavior is rare among hummingbirds. Because of its elongated wings, it can glide more efficiently than other hummingbird species.
• Giant hummingbirds feed primarily on nectar. Female giant hummingbirds usually ingest sources of calcium such as wood ash, slaked lime, soil, and sand, to replenish the calcium used in egg production.
• The nest of a giant hummingbird is small considering its size. This nest is typically built near water sources and it is perched on the branch of a tree parallel to the ground.
• The migration of giant hummingbirds occurs in summer. They migrate to temperate areas of South America.
3. Mountain Gems
There are 6-8 hummingbird species that are considered as mountain gems. They include purple-throated mountain gem, green-breasted mountain gem, gray-tailed mountain gem, and white-throated mountain gem.
Location
Mountain gems inhabit mountainous regions from the southwestern United States to the Isthmus of Panama.
Facts
• The white-bellied mountain gem is found in the Talamanca montane forests. It has a short black bill that is slightly curved.
• The white-throated mountain gem breeds in the mountains of western Panama.
• The grey-tailed mountain gem breeds in the mountains of southern Costa Rica. It inhabits forested areas in hilly terrain.
• The adult male grey-tailed mountain gem has bronze-green underparts and upper parts except for a grey tail, a pure white throat, and a brilliant green crown. The female lacks the bright crown and throat.
• The purple-throated mountain gem breeds in the mountains of western Panama, northern Costa Rica, and southern Nicaragua.
• The female mountain gem is entirely responsible for incubation and nest building. She lays two white eggs. Incubation takes 15-19 days.
• Mountain gems feed on nectar from a variety of small flowers. They obtain their proteins from small insects.
4. Bee Hummingbirds
The bee hummingbird is the smallest living bird. It is scarcely larger than a bee. Males weigh only 1.95 g while females 2.6 g.
Location
Bee hummingbirds are endemic to the entire Cuban archipelago including the West Indies and the main island of Cuba. They are found in dense forests and along woodland edges.
Facts
• Bee hummingbirds feed on 10 plant species. Nine of these plants are native to Cuba. They occasionally eat spiders and insects. On a typical day, a bee hummingbird will consume up to half its body weight in food.
• Bee hummingbirds can fly at 25-30 mph. They beat their wings 80 times per second. They are very agile; they can fly backward and upside down.
• Male bee hummingbirds are territorial. They will aggressively chase other nectar-feeding animals including bees, moths, and birds, from their territories.
• Males are smaller than females
• Most small hummingbirds have a slender appearance. However, the bee hummingbird looks plump and rounded.
• Females build a cup-shaped nest using bits of lichen, bark, and cobwebs. They line the nest using soft plant fibers.
• The nests of bee hummingbirds are tiny. They have a diameter of less than 2.5 cm.
• Females lay their eggs in the nests. They incubate the eggs and raise the young.
• Bee hummingbirds breed between March and June. They breed up to 2 eggs at a time.
• The bee hummingbird appears as a tiny jewel because of the iridescent colors of its feathers.
• Bee hummingbirds are solitary birds. However, during the breeding season, males come together and form groups called leks. Once in a lek, males sing and wiggle their tails to attract females.
• Males are polygamous. One male can mate with many females during the breeding season.
5. Mango Hummingbirds
The mango hummingbirds are a species of hummingbirds. This genus contains seven subspecies. They include green-throated mango, black-throated mango, Antillean mango, green mango, and Jamaican mango.
Location
• The green mango is a large hummingbird species that is endemic to the main island of Puerto Rico. It is found in the mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Green mangos are common in coffee plantations.
• Jamaican mango hummingbirds are only found on the Island of Jamaica. They are common along the northern coast. They inhabit man-made habitats, forest edges, and open lowland habitats. Although Jamaican mangos have a limited range they are not considered as endangered.
• The green throated mango hummingbird is common in Brazil, Trinidad, and Venezuela. In Brazil, it breeds in the narrow Atlantic coastal strip. It inhabits moist lowland savannah and mangrove swamps.
• The Antillean mango hummingbird is found in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Their natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical dry forests.
Facts
• In 2009, the Veraguan mango was added to the official list of birds of Costa Rica. The IUCN classifies it as a bird of Least Concern because it does not face the threat of extinction. It occupies a range of around 57,300 km2. This is above the criterion required to be listed as vulnerable.
• The Veraguan mango is a medium-sized species of hummingbirds. It was first discovered in Panama. However, it is commonly sighted throughout the Pacific coastline of Panama and Costa Rica.
• The plumage of the Jamaican mango is blackish with attractive magenta streaks. It has a down-curved black bill.
• The feather coloration of green mangos is dark green. They have a dark blue and black tail. Females are less glossy than the males.
• The green-throated mango is about 4 inches long and weighs 9 g. It has a long black bill that is slightly curved. This bird inhabits open landscapes, cultivated areas, gardens, orchards, scattered large trees, and deciduous forests.
• The green-throated mango is notably insectivorous. Apart from feeding on nectar, it also feeds on flying insects.
• The black-throated mango averages 4 inches in length and weighs about 7.2 g. An adult male has a glossy bright green upper plumage while an adult female has a bronze-green upper plumage. Juveniles have some grey on the head and wings. They are also brownish around the eyes.
• Black-throated mangos inhabit gardens, open country, and cultivation. They can easily adapt to human activity. Some populations are resident while others are migratory. Black-throated mangos can travel up to 1000 miles.
• The breeding season of the black-throated mango lasts almost year-round. It builds a tiny cup nest on a high and thin branch.
• The green-breasted mango and the black-breasted mango are closely related. The plumage differences between these two birds are not easy to confirm in the field. These birds appear-all black but the male black-throated mango has more extensive black on the underparts.
6. Emerald Hummingbirds
Emerald hummingbirds include Cuban emeralds, Honduran emeralds, garden emeralds, and emerald-chinned hummingbirds.
Location
• The garden emerald is a small Central American hummingbird. It is endemic to western Panama and Costa Rica; where it occurs in the Pacific hills and lowlands. They inhabit gardens, cultivations, clearings, and savannah.
• Emerald-chinned hummingbirds are widely distributed in Central America. However, their numbers are declining because of deforestation.
• The Honduran emerald is only found in Honduras while the Cuban emerald is only found in Cuba.
Facts
• The Cuban emerald breeds in semi-open habitats in Cuba and the western Bahamas. It can be observed feeding throughout the day while perched on a wire. This bird is locally known as zun-zun.
• The Honduran emerald is threatened by deforestation and habitat loss. It breeds in thorn forests near cacti and shrubs.
• The garden emerald measures 8 cm in length and weighs 2.6 g. The adult female has grey underparts and a white stripe behind the eye. The adult male has brilliant green underparts and bronze-green upperparts. Juveniles resemble the adult female.
7. Topaz Hummingbirds
There are two major species of topaz hummingbirds: fiery topaz and crimson topaz. These birds have a wide range. They can be found in Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, and Brazil.
Location
The humid forests in the Amazon Basin
Facts
• Males are larger than females. They have a total length of around 22 cm.
• Topaz hummingbirds are very colorful.
• The natural habitat of these birds is tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests.
The Bottom-Line
Hummingbirds are the smallest of birds. They are native to the Americas. Hummingbirds fall into 7 major classes: the hermits, giant hummingbirds, mountain gems, bee hummingbirds, mango hummingbirds, emerald hummingbirds, and topaz hummingbirds.