Plain-capped Starthroat
Common name: Plain-capped Starthroat
Scientific name: Heliomaster constantii
Clades: Lampornithini - Mountain-gems
The Plain-capped Starthroat is 11 to 13 cm (4.3 to 5.1 in) long. Males weigh about 7.4 g (0.26 oz) and females about 7.2 g (0.25 oz).
Large, aggressive hummingbirds with long, straight bills that are mostly drab in color. Males and females have white stripes below and behind their eyes, a pinkish or orangeish-red throat, a short tail, and a white stripe on their rump. They inhabit thorn forests, coffee plantations, second-growth areas, and partially open areas with scattered vegetation around arid or semiarid forests. They gather nectar from long tubular flowers and often catch flies high in the air. There are seasonal movements of individuals in northern parts of this starthroat's range, especially in October, November, and February, as well as local movements dependent on the timing of flowering.
3 subspecies:
H. c. pinicola
Distribution W Mexico (Sonora S to Jalisco).H. c. leocadiae
Distribution SW and S Mexico (Michoacán to Chiapas) and Guatemala.H. c. constantii
Distribution El Salvador S on Pacific slope to S Costa Rica.