Black-crested Coquette
Lophornis helenae
The Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae) is a rare hummingbird found in 7 countries, weighing about 3 g. The black-crested coquette is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae.
About the Black-crested Coquette
The black-crested coquette is a species of hummingbird in the "coquettes", tribe Lesbiini of subfamily Lesbiinae. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-crested coquette is 6.3 to 7.7 cm (2.5 to 3.0 in) long with an average weight of 2.6 to 2.8 g (0.092 to 0.099 oz). The adult male has a dark metallic green crown with a wispy greenish black crest. The nape and back are metallic bronze green; a white band separates the back from the sooty blackish rump and uppertail coverts. The central tail feathers are dull greenish bronze between their cinnamon rufous bases and dusky ends. The outer tail feathers are cinnamon rufous. The chin and upper throat are metallic yellowish green with a velvety black band below. Voice: The black-crested coquette is usually silent. A vocalization thought to be its song is "a clear, upslurred tsuwee, repeated". It has also been reported making a "thin, high twittering when fighting and a quiet, slightly metallic teek when feeding".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Panama.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-crested Coquette?
- The black-crested coquette is 6.3 to 7.7 cm (2.5 to 3.0 in) long with an average weight of 2.6 to 2.8 g (0.092 to 0.099 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-crested Coquette?
- The Black-crested Coquette is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Black-crested Coquette?
- The Black-crested Coquette occurs in 7 countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.
- What birds look similar to a Black-crested Coquette?
- The Black-crested Coquette is most easily confused with the Rufous-crested Coquette, the Tufted Coquette and the Festive Coquette.
- Is the Black-crested Coquette endangered?
- The Black-crested Coquette is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-crested Coquette for real
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