Coppery-headed emerald

Elvira cupreiceps

The coppery-headed emerald is a small hummingbird endemic to Costa Rica. It measures a mere 3" in length, and weighs only 3 g.
Elvira cupreiceps Coppery-headed emerald,Elvira cupreiceps

Appearance

The male has distinctive coppery crown and rump with a whole green belly and white vent. The female has a white belly and a narrow black subterminal band on white outer rectrices of the tail. Its noticeably decurved bill sets it apart from similar the allopatric white-tailed emerald.
Coppery-headed Emerald Catarata del Toro,Coppery-headed emerald,Costa Rica,Elvira cupreiceps

Distribution

This species is fairly common at middle elevations on Caribbean Slope, south to Reventazon River; from 600 to 1,500 m . Also it is fairly common on Pacific slope of Guanacaste and Tilarán Cordilleras; from 1,200 to 1,500 m.
Coppery-headed Emerald At the wonderful Catarata del Toro Catarata del Toro,Coppery-headed emerald,Costa Rica,Elvira cupreiceps

Behavior

Males form small leks at middle levels of forest edges.
The Coppery Headed Emerald Reddish hummingbird seen in the feeders near the Monte Verde reserve. They are in the wild and just come to use the feeders. April, 2015. Coppery-headed emerald,Costa Rica,Elvira cupreiceps,Geotagged,Spring

Food

Like all hummingbirds, the coppery-headed emerald feeds on nectar and small invertebrates. Because its bill is short, it forages at small flowers, including those in the genera ''Besleria'', ''Cavendishia'', ''Clusia'', ''Guarea'', ''Pithecellobium'', ''Quararibea'' and ''Satyria''. It feeds at all levels in mature wet montane forest and forest edges.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderApodiformes
FamilyTrochilidae
GenusElvira
SpeciesE. cupreiceps
Photographed in
Costa Rica