Blue-capped

Common name: Blue-capped Hummingbird
Scientific name: Eupherusa cyanophrys
Clades: Trochilini - Emeralds

The Blue-capped Hummingbird, also known as the Oaxaca Hummingbird, is an endangered species found exclusively in the Sierra Miahuatlán mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. This rare hummingbird inhabits the region's cloud forests, semi-deciduous forests, pine-evergreen forests, and gallery forests. Unfortunately, these habitats are being cleared for agriculture, leading to a significant decline in the Blue-capped Hummingbird's population.

Adult Male: The male is a vibrant blend of colors. His body is primarily a shimmering green, with underparts that glisten like emeralds. The real showstopper is his head: a forecrown of vivid violet-blue that transitions into a turquoise hind crown, creating a stunning visual display. His wings are a mix of dusky primaries and rufous secondaries, adding to his kaleidoscopic allure. The central tail feathers are green, while the remaining ones are strikingly white, and his undertail coverts are pristine white.

Adult Female: The female shares the male's elegance but with her own unique charm. She has similar green body plumage, but her secondaries are less rufous, giving her a more subtle look. Her underparts are a soft pale gray, providing a gentle contrast to her colorful upperparts. The outer tail feathers are white with dusky green outer webs, completing her delicate and graceful appearance.

In their natural habitat, these hummingbirds forage at various levels within the forest, often fanning out their tails as they feed. Despite their beauty and agility, they are usually subordinate to other hummingbirds.