The hummingbirds of the South American and Central American Rainforest...
They are known as 'hummingbirds' because of the relatively loud humming sound from the beating of their wings. When I first heard it, I thought it was a growl from a predatory mammal! The smaller species can flap their wings up to 80 times a second.
As far as known, only the females build the nests. These are are small and usually cup shaped, and constructed with the addition of lichens and spider silk to bind the material together, but also allow for expansion. The female usually lays two eggs.
This is a huge family of over 335 species, so I have split this page up into the many different genera.
There are two species in this genus.
Florisuga mellivora, 'White-necked Jacobin'. Widespread in lowland forest Central and South America.
The name 'Colibri' is Espanol for 'hummingbird'. There are five species. They are generally greenish, with colourful throat and ear patches, thus the common name.
Colibri coruscans, 'Sparkling Violetear'.
There are 9 species in this genus.
Chrysuronia oenone, 'Golden-tailed Saphire'. Found in rainforest in northern South America and along the Andes.
There are 5 species in this genus.
Amazilia viridicauda, 'Green and White Hummingbird'.
This is the only species in this genus.
Adelomyia melanogenys, 'Speckled Hummingbird'. Widespread in the mountain rainforests of South America.
There are 9 species in this genus.
Heliodoxa leadbeateri, 'Violet-fronted Brilliant'.
There are 4 species in this genus.
Aglaeactis cupripennis, 'Shining Sunbeam'. Found in montane rainforest and shrubland in the Andes.
There are about a dozen species in this genus.
Coeligena torquata, 'Collared Inca'. Lives in mountain rainforest of South America.
There is only one species in this genus.
Ensifera ensifera, 'Sword-billed Hummingbird'. As suggested by the name, the bill is very long; the only bird that has a bill longer than it's body. It looks absurd, and the bird can not preen with it's own bill like most birds, but must use it's feet. When it perches, it is usually with the bill pointing upwards. They mostly feed on the nectar from flowers in the genera Datura and Passiflora, especially 'Curuba' Passiflora mixta, which it is thought to have co-evolved with. The bird is found in montane forest and shrublands in the Andes.
There is only one species in this genus.
Patagona gigas, 'Giant Hummingbird'. Plain brown with rufous underbelly. As the names suggests, this is the largest of all hummingbirds; it is about the size of an European Starling, but is much lighter. It is found on the edge of the montane forest and in shrublands in the Andes.
There are 10 species in this genus.
Heliangelus amethysticollis, 'Amethyst-throated Sunangel'. Found in mountain rainforest.
Heliangelus strophianus, 'Gorgeted Sunangel'. Found in rainforest on western slopes of Andes, Ecuador and Columbia.
There are (probably) 4 species in this genus.
Ocreatus addae, 'Rufous-Booted Racket-tail'.
Ocreatus underwoodii, 'White-Booted Racket-tail'.
Only the males have the longer tails, as this would be impractical for nesting females.
Aglaiocercus kingii, 'Long-tailed Sylph'.. Often seen at feeders. Found in mountain rainforest and edge in Andes.
Aglaiocercus coelestis, 'Violet-tailed Sylph'. Visits feeders. Found in mountain rainforest of the Andes.
There are four species in this distinctive genus. They are small (even for hummingbirds) and fly like giant bumblebees.
Calliphlox mitchellii, 'Purple-throated Woodstar'. Found only in rainforest on west slopes of the Andes (and a small spot in Panama).