Violet Sabrewing
Violet Sabrewing - Very large, spectacular, and aggressive hummingbird of humid evergreen forest in highlands and foothills, descending locally and seasonally to lowlands in southeastern Mexico. Feeds at all levels at flowers and at times in canopy of roadside trees. Note the very large size, thick arched bill, and big, flashy white tail corners. Male’s amazing purple plumage often looks blackish overall, but when it catches the light—wow!
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata in broadleaf forest; especially common near streams. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to fairly common resident in Maya Mountains and foothills of Toledo, Cayo and Stann Creek; uncommon and local in Mountain Pine Ridge. Most plentiful at higher elevations. |
Wedge Tailed Sabrewing
Wedge Tailed Sabrewing - Very large but rather drab hummingbird of tropical lowland forest and edge. Feeds low to high, usually at edges. Note the long graduated tail and the pale gray face and underparts with a whitish spot behind the eyes. Male has longer tail than female; female has narrow whitish tail tips. Violet-blue crown rarely catches the light. Loud and complex song can attract attention, given from mid-level perch, often on vines.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata in broadleaf and submontane pine forest clearings and edge. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Distribution complex and discontinuous; uncommon to common resident locally in interior throughout much of country, but ranges to coast in Corozal. |
Stripped Throated Hermit
Stripe Throated Hermit - Small, inconspicuous hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors shady forest understory and edges, where feeds at all levels. Males sit and sing tirelessly from knee-high perches in the understory but, they can be very difficult to locate. Note the tiny size, striped face, arched bill, buffy underparts, and rusty rump patch. Squeak call in flight similar to Long-billed Hermit but softer and less explosive.
BELIZE HABITAT - Lower levels within broadleaf forest and forest edge, clearings, second-growth scrub. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common resident, progressively less common farther north and perhaps absent from most of Corozal; unrecorded from cayes. |
Long-Billed Hermit
Long Billed Hermit - Spectacular large hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors shady forest understory and edges, especially with patches of Heliconia flowers. Males sit and sing tirelessly from perches in the understory while pumping their tail. When feeding, hovers briefly with long white tail streamers held nearly vertical and shoots off with an explosive squeak. Note the striped face, very long, arched bill, and rather drab plumage. Unlike many hummingbirds, hermits do not defend a patch of flowers but zip between widely scattered flowers, a strategy known as traplining (like it is checking widely scattered nectar traps).
BELIZE HABITAT - Broadleaf forest edge and clearings; second-growth scrub. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common resident north to central Orange Walk and north central Belize; unrecorded from cayes. |
Band-Tailed Barbthroat
Band Tailed Barbthroat - Scarce hummingbird of humid evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands. Favors shady understory, especially with Heliconia flowers. Usually visits flowers briefly and whips away with a sharp buzzy squeak. Note long arched bill (yellowish below), striped face, blackish throat patch, and rusty breast patch. Striking tail pattern, black with white tips, and a white base that is only readily seen when the tail is spread.
BELIZE HABITAT - Lower strata within broadleaf forest and forest edge. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon resident in interior lowlands and foothills of Toledo and Stann Creek north to Cockscomb Basin; absent from higher elevations. |
White-Necked Jacobin
White Necked Jacobin - Rather large, spectacular hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands that favors forest edges, adjacent clearings with scattered trees and flowering bushes, and gardens. Feeds at all levels, often in the canopy, hovering with its tail cocked and occasionally opening it to show extensive white. Male has deep blue hood, green upperparts with white collar (often hard to see), white underparts, and mostly white tail. Some females look similar to males while others look very different, with dark spotting below and a mostly green tail with white tips.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels to sub-canopy at broadleaf forest edge and clearings; frequently seen hovering over wooded streams and ponds. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Fairly common resident north to central Orange Walk and north central Belize. Unrecorded from cayes. |
Purple-Crowned Fairy
Purple Crowned Fairy - Flashy, rather large hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edges, adjacent clearings with scattered trees and flowering bushes, and gardens. Feeds at all levels, but often in the canopy, hovering with its tail cocked and frequently flashed open to show extensive white. Note the gleaming snow-white underparts, brilliant emerald-green upperparts, and flashy white outer tail feathers. Bill is medium-length, black, and sharply pointed (often pierces flower bases to get nectar). Sexes similar overall, but female lacks purple crown of male, which can be hard to see, and has a longer tail.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid to upper strata within broadleaf forest and forest edge. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to fairly common resident north to central Cayo and west Stann Creek; also in west and central Orange Walk; absent from coastal areas north of south Toledo. Recorded once on Caye Caulker on August 15, 1999. |
Brown Violetear
Brown Violetear - Uncommon, rather large but drab, fairly short-billed hummingbird of tropical and subtropical forest and edge. Can be aggressive when defending flower patches from most other hummingbirds. Occurs mainly in foothills, ranging seasonally down to lowlands. Sexes similar: overall grayish brown with a broad pale mustache, dark throat patch, and dark violet ear patches that can be raised. Tail has a broad blackish subterminal band and rump feathers have bright rusty edgings.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-strata in tropical moist broadleaf forest, mostly in uplands. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon and local resident in Maya Mountains; lowland records from near Southern Lagoon Belize on July 28, 1905 and Hill Bank Orange Walk on November 25, 1956, suggests that this species is prone to wander seasonally. |
Green-Breasted Mango
Green Breasted Mango - Large, bulky hummingbird with slightly arched black bill. Favors forest edge and open areas with scattered tall trees. Often perches and feeds high in canopy, but also feeds low on occasions and will visit feeders. Male (some females similar) solidly dark, deep green overall with black throat, purplish tail. Female and immature have broad dark stripe down center of throat and breast, white tail corners. Immature also has rusty mottling along sides of throat and breast.
BELIZE HABITAT - Midlevels to subcanopy within littoral forest, second-growth scrub, braodleaf forest edge, cultivated areas, towns, and villages. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common resident on many cayes; less common on mainland coast, where may be seasonally absent in some areas. Uncommon and local inland, and scare in much of west Orange Walk and north west Cayo. |
Violet Crowned Woodymph
Violet Crowned Woodnymph - Favors evergreen forest and edge in tropical lowlands, often near streams. Feeds mainly at low to middle levels in shady understory, but comes to feeders at edges and in clearings. Male is stunning but often looks all dark: note the fairly long, deeply forked tail and brilliant emerald and violet plumage. Female rather dull and plain: note the black bill, green-mottled flanks, and blue-black tail with whitish corners.
BELIZE HABITAT - Tropical moist broadleaf forest. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon and local resident in west and central Toledo; most records are from Bladen Reserve and Columbia River Forest Reserve. Recorded once at Douglas da Silva, Mountain Pine Ridge. |
Black-Crested Coquette
Black Crested Coquette - Tiny, insectlike hummingbird of humid tropical forest and edge in foothills and lowlands; infrequently seen. Feeds quietly at all levels in small flowers where could easily be passed off as a big moth or bumblebee (and vice versa). Male often perches on exposed thin twigs. Feeding flight notably slow and beelike, with tail held cocked to show off bold white rump band. Male has long wispy crest of black feathers and bright red bill. Female has boldly spotted underparts and white rump band.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata at broadleaf forest edge and clearings. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Regular to uncommon resident in west Toledo and south Cayo; recorded twice on Placencia Penninsula Stann Creek. |
Blue-Throated Goldentail
Blue Throated Goldentail - Uncommon and local, rather small hummingbird of humid forest edge, plantations, and woodlands in tropical lowlands and foothills. Perches and feeds mainly at middle to upper levels in shady understory and at edges. Note the bright red bill and greenish-gold tail (which often looks grayish). Male has violet gorget. Female has violet throat spotting, but often these areas look rather dull and grayish unless they catch the light.
BELIZE HABITAT - Forest edge, cultivated areas. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Two records; near Beaver Dam Creek Cayo on April 19, 1987; and near San Pedro Columbia Toldeo on April 3, 1994. Possibly a scarce resident. |
Azure Crowned
Azure Crowned Hummingbird - Medium-sized hummingbird of oak and pine-oak woodlands and adjacent shrubby clearings; also local in lowland pine savannas. Sexes look alike and often look rather dull overall, despite the name. Note the whitish throat and breast offset by a dusky vest, and the dusky brownish rump and tail. Crown and sides of head are blue (rarely catching the light), with a white spot behind the eye and some red at base of bill.
BELIZE HABITAT - Midlevels to sub-canopy in pine woodland and savanna, broadleaf forest, and forest edge from sea level to highest elevations in Mountain Pine Ridge and Maya Mountains. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to common resident in a broad wedge across Belize from central Belize and central Toledo southwest and west to south Cayo and west Toledo. Also in east central Orange Walk. Absent from Corozal, most of Orange Walk, north Cayo, south Toledo and cayes. Although found in a wide variety of habitats and elevations within this zone, it is absent from these same habitats in areas outside this zone. Clearly, something other than macro-habitat or elevation is the limiting factor in its distribution. |
Canivet's Emerald
Canivet's Emerald Hummingbird - Small hummingbird of tropical lowlands, favoring forest edge and semi-open areas, often in relatively dry habitats. Usually feeds rather low, and often inconspicuous. Both sexes habitually pump their forked tail while hovering, unlike most other hummingbirds found in the same areas. Solidly emerald-green male is distinctive. Combination of small size, rather short straight bill, face pattern (whitish eyestripe and broad dark mask), and tail wagging behavior help ID the female. Also note the dry chattering call, which may suggest the call of Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low levels in deciduous and semi-deciduous forest edge, second-growth scrub, savannas, cultivated areas. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to common resident of lowlands south to central Cayo and northeast Toledo, occasionally south to Punta Gorda; absent from Maya Mountains. Fairly common on Ambergris Caye; recorded once on Caye Caulker. |
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird - Only species of hummingbird that breeds in eastern U.S. and Canada. Found in a variety of wooded and brushy habitats. Males have red-and-black throat, greenish upperparts, dingy whitish belly, and dark tail. Females are green above and whitish below, lacking buffy-orange tones underneath. Readily comes to sugar water feeders and flower gardens.
BELIZE HABITAT - Most strata; forest edge and clearings, second-growth scrub, landscaped yards in towns and villages. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon autumn transient and winter visitor and fairly common spring transient, early October to late April. |
Strip-Tailed Hummingbird
Strip Tailed Hummingbird - Distinctive, medium-sized hummingbird found in foothills and highlands. Favors humid evergreen forests and shade-coffee plantations. Mainly feeds at low to middle levels, darting quickly among flowers and flashing open its tail to reveal white stripes. Both sexes have a bright rusty panel in the wings, which appears as a blur when hovering. Male is brilliant green overall. Female is pale gray below and has less white in the tail.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-levels within itnerior of sub-montane tropical moist broadleaf forest. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common to very common resident at higher elevations in Maya Mountains; less common and local in foothills. |
White-Bellied Emerald
White Bellied Emerald Hummingbird - Medium-sized hummingbird of middle and high elevations. Green above, white below, with a pinkish lower mandible. Found around forest edges and scrubby open habitats. Distinguished with care from the very similar Green-and-white Hummingbird by the white extending lower onto the underside of the tail, and by its sometimes lighter pink lower mandible; it is also typically found in more open habitats than that species.
BELIZE HABITAT - Most strata within broadleaf forest and forest edge. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to Common resident on mainland. |
Buff-Belied Hummingbird
Buff Bellied Hummingbird - Green hummingbird with red bill, orange tail, and buffy patch on belly. The namesake belly patch can be difficult to see; tail and bill color are better ways to separate it from other hummingbirds. Males and females similar. Common in Mexico; limited range in U.S. Found in a variety of wooded or shrubby habitats, usually around flowers. Visits hummingbird feeders.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata in pinelands, arid scrub, and open second growth; absent from areas with high annual rainfall and dense forest. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common resident in Corozal; progressively less common west and south to southwest Orange Walk, northeast Cayo, and southeast Stann Creek. Unrecorded from Toledo and cayes. |
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Tailed Hummingbird - Handsome, medium-size hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge, second growth, gardens in some areas. Feeds low to high and often comes to feeders. Can be difficult to distinguish from Buff-bellied Hummingbird, which favors drier habitats. Rufous-tailed has a dingier, grayish belly and more extensive rusty on the tail, which lacks the distinct fork often shown by Buff-bellied’s tail. Also compare Cinnamon Hummingbird.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata. Nearly ubiquitous, but absent in interior of extensively forested areas. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common to very common resident nearly throughout, but uncommon to scarce at higher elevations in Maya Mountains and outnumbered by Buffed-Bellied in Corozal. Recorded occasionally from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, where apparently not resident. |
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Cinnamon Hummingbird - Striking, medium-size hummingbird of dry tropical lowlands. Favors scrubby woodland and edge, gardens, semi-open areas with flowering trees. Wholly cinnamon-colored underparts distinctive; also note the bright red bill, tipped black (red less extensive on immatures). If seen only from behind, can be confused with Buff-bellied and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, both of which show a green throat and chest when seen from the side or front.
BELIZE HABITAT - Low to mid-strata in littoral forest and forest edge, mangroves, cultivated areas. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Common resident on many cayes, and on mainland coast south to central Toledo. North of south Belize recorded inland in east Orange Walk and most of Corozol. |
Scaly-Breasted Hummingbird
Scaly Breasted Hummingbird - Rather large, dull-plumaged hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge and adjacent clearings with trees, flowering bushes, and gardens. Best field marks are its large size and big white tail corners. Sexes look alike: dull greenish overall with medium-length, straightish black bill, dingy buffy belly, and white spot behind eye (like many hummingbirds). Breast is vaguely mottled and not obviously scaly.
BELIZE HABITAT - Mid-level strata at broadleaf forest edge, clearings. Where can I find this bird in Belize? Uncommon to fairly common resident away from coast north to central Orange Walk and west of Belize. |