Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
The Volcano Hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) is a uncommon hummingbird found in 2 countries, weighing about 3 g. The volcano hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds".
About the Volcano Hummingbird
The volcano hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in tribe Mellisugini of subfamily Trochilinae, the "bee hummingbirds". It is found in Costa Rica and Panama. This hummingbird is the one that appears on the 20 thousand colones bill from Costa Rica.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The volcano hummingbird is 7.5 to 8 cm (3.0 to 3.1 in) long. Males weigh about 2.5 g (0.088 oz) and females 2.8 g (0.099 oz). Both sexes of all subspecies have a short, straight, black bill and a small white spot behind the eye. The adult male of the nominate subspecies has bronze-green upperparts and rufous-edged black outer tail feathers. Its gorget is mauve-purple and the rest of the underparts mostly white. The sides of the breast have a buffy to pale cinnamon wash and green speckles. The adult female is also bronze-green above.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Volcano Hummingbird?
- The volcano hummingbird is 7.5 to 8 cm (3.0 to 3.1 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Volcano Hummingbird?
- The Volcano Hummingbird is a tiny sized bird weighing about 3 g.
- Where can you see a Volcano Hummingbird?
- The Volcano Hummingbird occurs in 2 countries, including Costa Rica and Panama.
- What birds look similar to a Volcano Hummingbird?
- The Volcano Hummingbird is most easily confused with the Scintillant Hummingbird, the Bumblebee Hummingbird and the Wine-throated Hummingbird.
- Is the Volcano Hummingbird endangered?
- The Volcano Hummingbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Volcano Hummingbird for real
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