Beautiful
Common name: Beautiful Hummingbird
Scientific name: Calothorax pulcher
Clades: Mellisugini - Bees
Endemic to Mexico
The Beautiful Hummingbird is a true marvel of the avian world, captivating observers with its shimmering colors and intricate details.
Adult Male: Dressed in a resplendent metallic bronze green, the male Beautiful Hummingbird is a sight to behold. Its central tail feathers mirror this bronzy green, while the outer feathers shift to a bronzy black. The wings are a subtle, dusky brownish-gray. A striking white stripe behind the eye adds to its distinct appearance. However, the real showstopper is its chin and throat, which blaze with a brilliant metallic magenta-purple, shifting to violet and blue towards the back. The elongated feathers of its gorget add an extra layer of splendor. The bird's breast is a muted white or grayish-white, transitioning to metallic bronze-green on the flanks, and the tibial tufts and under tail coverts are a crisp white.
Adult Female: While the female's upperparts also boast a metallic bronze green, they are slightly duller on the crown and forecrown. The central tail feathers are bright bronze green, with the next pair being bright bronze green with blackish ends. The three outer pairs of tail feathers start as light cinnamon rufous and transition to black, with the outermost pairs featuring broad white tips. Her tail is double-rounded, and her wings mirror the male's dusky brownish-gray. Her underparts are a soft, pale grayish-buff, deepening to a cinnamon buff on the flanks. White tibial tufts complete her understated elegance.
Immature Male: The young male Beautiful Hummingbird closely resembles the female, but with a few distinct differences. His tail is slightly longer and more deeply forked, and his rectrices are narrower. Most notably, he often sports a few pink feathers on his throat, hinting at the brilliant plumage to come.
With their dazzling hues and graceful forms, Beautiful Hummingbirds are truly nature's glittering wonders, bringing a touch of magic to the landscapes they inhabit.