Black-crested Coquette

Jul 17

Common name: Black-crested Coquette
Scientific name: Lophornis helenae
Clades: Lesbiini - Coquettes

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).

Black-crested Coquettes live in humid tropical forests and edges in foothills and lowlands; rarely seen. It feeds quietly at all levels on small flowers. It could be easily mistaken for a big moth or bumblebee. The male often perches on thin twigs. The birds feed very slowly and beelike, their tails held cocked to show off their white rump bands. A bright red bill and a long wispy black crest characterize the male. There's a white band on the rump of the Female and boldly spotted underparts.

Found from southern Veracruz in Mexico south through eastern Guatemala, southern Belize, eastern Honduras and Nicaragua into eastern Costa Rica. A separate population is on the Pacific side of Central America from Chiapas in Mexico south through western Guatemala.

taken in Costa Rica