Mexico is home to over a dozen species of hermit hummingbirds, colorful little birds that live solitary lives in forest habitats. These speedy fliers have specialized curved bills adapted for accessing nectar from flowers, though they also eat small insects. Hermit hummingbirds get their name from their reclusive behavior, spending most of their time alone defending flower territories rather than gathering in flocks. Here is an overview of some of the most common Mexican hermit hummingbird species:
Green-fronted Hummingbird (Amazilia viridifrons)
With its emerald green crown and throat and blue-tipped tail, the aptly named Green-fronted Hummingbird is one of the most vibrant Mexican hermit species. Males have a purplish-blue gorget, while females have white underparts. They thrive in tropical evergreen forests and pine-oak woodlands along the Pacific coast and in the foothills. Green-fronteds use their long decurved bills to drink from specialized tubular flowers.
Plain-capped Starthroat (Heliomaster constantii)
Found along Mexico’s Pacific coast, the Plain-capped Starthroat is named for the purple-red stain or star shape on its throat. The male’s iridescent bluish-green crown is bordered by a white forehead band, nape and eyering. Females lack the colorful throat patch and have more grayish plumage overall. Plain-capped Starthroats favor habitats like dry deciduous forests, mangroves and scrublands. Their heavy-duty bills give them access to flowers with tough bases other hummers can’t open.
Wine-throated Hummingbird (Atthis ellioti)
The smallest hummingbird species in North America, Wine-throated Hummingbirds live in pine-oak and fir forests in Mexico’s mountain ranges. True hermits, they are fiercely territorial and only gather at blooming clusters of food sources. Males have a striking “wine-colored” gorget bordered by white, along with an iridescent green back. Females are duller with a pale throat and greener crown. Wine-throats have very short bills adapted for feeding at small flowers.
Bumblebee Hummingbird (Atthis heloisa)
Bumblebee Hummingbirds are tiny charismatic birds named for their faint buzzing wingbeats. Males are unmistakable with a blazing iridescent crimson-pink gorget on an otherwise gray-brown body. Females lack red on the throat and are overall dull gray-green in color. These diminutive hummers thrive in pine and fir forests at high elevations. Their short bills and tongues are perfect for accessing the small blossoms of mountain wildflowers.
Green-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)
Living up to its name, the Green-tailed Emerald has glossy green upperparts and a brilliant emerald band along its rounded tail. Males also have a glittering emerald crown and glittering turquoise-green throat and upper breast. Females are duller with a pale gray belly and whitish eyering. This species favors forest edges, plantations and parks from southern Mexico to Panama. Green-tailed Emeralds feed on nectar mainly from trees and scrubs.
Cinnamon Hummingbird (Amazilia rutila)
The Cinnamon Hummingbird is aptly named for its vibrant rufous plumage, with males exhibiting a bright cinnamon-red crown, throat and breast. Their emerald green backs gleam in the sunlight. Females are similar but less brightly colored, with more olive-green plumage throughout. Cinnamons frequent dry scrub, deciduous forests and savanna outskirts across Mexico and Central America. They utilize their specialized decurved bills to drink from tubular blossoms.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis)
Native to the Yucatan Peninsula, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird has turquoise upperparts and a buffy orange belly band. Males have a glittering emerald gorget, while females have a pale throat and whitish belly streaks. They inhabit coastal scrub forests and savannas and are aggressive defenders of nectar-rich flowers such as honeysuckles and heliconias. Buff-bellied Hummingbirds sip nectar while hovering but also perch to eat small insects.
Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus)
The largest hummingbird species in North America, the Violet Sabrewing has dusky violet plumage with an iridescent blue back on males. Females are brownish with pale streaks below. Violet Sabrewings live along Mexico’s Gulf coast region in humid broadleaf forests as well as cloud forests in mountainous areas. Their curved bill is uniquely adapted for accessing nectar from large rainforest blooms. Sabrewings sometimes steal food from smaller hummingbird species.
Green Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus)
Mexico’s Veracruz state is home to the Green Violet-ear hummingbird, named for its vibrant violet-blue ear patch and bright green plumage overall. Males have an iridescent turquoise throat while females have white underparts with green streaks. They live in tropical deciduous forests and dense rainforests, feeding on arthropods, nectar and pollen. Green Violet-ears favor tall rainforest blooms and are important pollinators.
White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)
The boldly patterned White-eared Hummingbird has brilliant turquoise-green upperparts with a bushy white facial “ear” stripe. Males have a gleaming blue throat while females have a white-streaked gray belly. Found from Mexico to Panama, White-eared Hummingbirds inhabit forests and woodland edges, defending territory around flowering plants. Their bill is adapted for drinking from a variety of bloom shapes and sizes.
Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris)
The most widespread hermit hummingbird, the Long-billed Hermit lives across Mexico down to Bolivia in subtropical and evergreen cloud forests. It has a exceptionally long decurved bill adapted for drinking nectar from specialized tubular flowers. Males are striking with a long rufous-cinnamon tail, rufous underparts and iridescent green scaled back pattern. The smaller females are duller greenish-brown overall.
In summary, Mexico hosts a diversity of hermit hummingbirds uniquely adapted to different forest niches and flower types. These solitary territorial birds add a burst of color and energetic life to their ecosystems through their roles as pollinators and arthropod predators. Conservation of their specialized forest habitats is crucial to preserving Mexico’s spectacular hermit hummingbird species. Their specialized bills and hover-feeding behaviors provide endless fascination for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers.